Free Essays - Psychology Essays
Ethnic Minorities Abortion
Proposed research topic: “Expecting the unexpected: psychological effects on women from ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom after abortion”
Abstract
This research proposal explores the significant effects of ethnic minority women after undergoing the process of abortion. The researcher specifically explores the psychological effects of abortion ethnic women in the United Kingdom. The process of abortion among women presents not only physical challenges but rather psychological manifestations. The importance of exploring this research topic is to be able to assess and evaluate the significant psychological effects of abortion among ethnic women in the UK.
The method of this study proposes to use a quantitative approach thru using a survey questionnaire among the subjects. This will help in identifying the psychological effects of abortion among UK’s minority women. The researcher also presents several literature reviews in order to explore the significant factors in this research study.
Introduction
It is significant to know that approximately 46 million number of abortion are done each year (The center for bio ethical reform, 2007). In this statistics almost 78% percent of the cases of abortion are conducted on developing countries and 22% percent of the cases are done in developed countries according to the Center for Bio Ethical Reform (2007). This statistics presents the challenge of abortion especially to the healthcare of women who have undergone this kind of process.
It is very important that undergoing the process of abortion entails not only physical effects but rather psychological and emotional challenges as well. In the United Kingdom, abortion has been practiced because of the Abortion Act of 1967. Technically, this act or law passed by parliament does not legalize abortion but rather provided a legal ground for women who chose to undergo this kind of medical procedure (BBC News, 2006).
Under certain situations, abortion in the United Kingdom can be applied if the situation calls for it. Situations on which pregnant women are involved in risking their mental and psychical health because of the pregnancy can opt to apply this kind of procedure (BBC News, 2006; Kero, 2001). Other situations on which abortion can be accounted for under the Abortion Act of 1967 are when “there is a substantial risk that when the child when born would suffer because of abnormalities and being handicapped” (BBC News, 2006). This kind of situations can be used to account for legally basing abortion in the United Kingdom because of health risks on the part of the pregnant woman and her future child.
Find out how our expert essay writers can help you with your work...The issue of abortion in the United Kingdom clearly affects the social, physical, and psychological stability of women undergoing this kind of process. It is important to cite that almost 180, 000 women in England and Wales have undergone similar medical procedures in the year 2003 (BBC News, 2006).
This numbers are important to manifest because it shows that women in the United Kingdom have undergone abortion mainly because of health risks both to them and their future child. In this situation, this research study examines the process of abortion among minority women in the United Kingdom. The researcher will explore the effects of the process of abortion undergone by minority women specifically in the aspect of psychological development and sustainability.
The essence of this research proposal explores the significant effects of the process of abortion to the psychological state of minority women in the United Kingdom. Initial literature has suggests that abortion especially among young women can is considered a traumatic event in life (Beautrais, 2006). This kind of effect can lead to mental health problems, depression, high levels of anxiety, and substance abuse disorders (Beautrais, 2006).
The effect of abortion among women can increase the risks of mental health problems mainly because of the traumatizing experience that undergoing abortion can imply (Lok, 2007). In this situation, this research proposal will present the significant factors that will help the researcher explore further the effects of abortion among women with focus on minority women in the United Kingdom. Different sections in this paper will discuss the platform and focus of this study in order to further explore the merits of this research proposal.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study focuses on two issues that must be addressed in the process of this research study. The first objective of the researcher in conceptualizing this research proposal is to be able to explore and identify the different psychological effects among minority women in the United Kingdom after undergoing the process of abortion.
The impact and effect of abortion to the mental state among women is an important issue that must be identified in relation to further developing proper approaches in the healthcare system of the United Kingdom. Initial literature has also suggested that abortion is a traumatic experience among young women (Beautrais, 2006).
You can get expert help with your essays right now. Find out more...This information clearly states that mental and psychological factors can affect women who have undergone abortion. The experience itself can be detrimental to the physical health of women. That is why; mental and psychological assessment must be conducted in order to further develop information with regards to the effects of abortion to the psychological state among minority women. The focus of minority women also indicates a new encompassing factor that would widen the literature and information on the effects of abortion on women of different cultural background.
The researcher also aims to create vital recommendations with regards to the psychological effects of abortion with focus on minority women in the United Kingdom. Culture can be a decisive attribute especially in assessing the effects of a “traumatizing” experience among minority women.
It is an important process to make use of the results of this research study to further recommend new initiatives and information that will help minority women who have undergone an abortion experience. The effects of abortion among the subjects will be significant to assess the needed psychological intervention that is inline to help the focus group of this research study.
Significance of the Study
The research proposal is a significant study because of its capability to help in addressing psychological problems that are encountered by women who have undergone the experience of abortion. The impact of abortion to women not only affects the physical state of women but rather, psychological and social perception factors can arise in this kind of issue (Beautrais, 2006; Begue, 2001). The effects of social perception of being “bad” after undergoing abortion also plays a significant role to the psychological variance among women undergoing abortion (Begue, 2001; Robinson, 2006). The social stigma especially on the culture among minority women in the UK may lead to various psychological effects.
The researcher’s own exploration research reveals limited source of information with regards to studies focusing on the psychological effects of minority women in the United Kingdom. This presents the significant contribution of this research study to increasing the literature and creating more focus on studies that can help gender issues especially among minority women. It is the objective of the researcher to make use of this research study to obtain information that can help further explore the effects of abortion in order to create vital interventions and programs suited to help the needs of minority women in the United Kingdom.
Proposed Statement of the Problem
The main research problem that this research will explore is in relation to identifying the psychological effects of abortion among minority women in the United Kingdom. It is identified that psychological factors may affect the mental health of women who have undergone abortion. In this situation, the researcher aims to explore and to identify the different psychological effects of undergoing abortion with a major focus on minority women living in the United Kingdom. This is to further expand the search for knowledge and information on the psychological effects of abortion on minority groups of women.
Proposed research questions
The main research question in this study is: What are the psychological effects of abortion among minority women in the United Kingdom? Specifically, it will support the following research questions:
- What are the psychological effects of abortion that affect the level of mental health among minority women?
- Is there a psychological change among minority women who have undergone the process of abortion?
- What should be done in order to support the needed psychological needs among minority women who have undergone the process of abortion in the United Kingdom?
Proposed Ethical Issues
Ethical issues in this study are important matters because of the significance of the situation on which the subjects have experienced. Confidentiality is an important aspect that must be upheld to protect the identity and personal rights of subjects involved. Medical records should also be confidential since these documents can only be accessed with the approval of the parties involved in the study. It is important that the researcher properly assessed the needs and requests of the subjects in order to protect their rights and to be aware the experience the subjects have undergone.
Proposed Research Method
The researcher proposes to use quantitative research method as the primary research design of this study. This is to identify the different psychological effects of abortion especially among minority women in the United Kingdom. The researcher will make use of a survey questionnaire to collect the needed information that will be used to analyze the results of the study. Using quantitative research would be essential because it will be support the findings based on the frequency of events that happened in the course of the subject’s experience.
Find out how our expert essay writers can help you with your work...In using this kind of method, the researcher aims to collect the data designed to answer on specific questions with specific answers. This is also to limit the emotional factors that a qualitative process may affect on the study. It is with highest expectation that the researcher hopes to maintain proper decorum while applying the procedures of this study. This is also in line with properly addressing the situation on which the subject’s are experiencing with.
Proposed Data Collection
Primary data will be collected from the results of the quantitative part of this study. The researcher will make use of a survey questionnaire in order to identify the psychological effects of abortion among minority women in the United Kingdom. The researcher will make use of various data collection techniques however; great emphasis will be focused on the state and condition of the subjects participating in the research study.
Proposed Data Sample
The subjects of this study will be minority women who have undergone abortion in the United Kingdom. The researcher will create qualification requirements in order to distinguish the classification of being a “minority” woman. This procedure is to make sure that proper and qualified representation be adhered on by this research study. The sample will be a representation of the minority women in the United Kingdom. The researcher will also assess the health situation of the proposed subjects in order not to affect the state of their health by participating in this research study. This situation is also an ethical issue that must be addressed properly in the course of applying this research proposal.
Initial Literature Review
It is said that women are more psychologically vulnerable to men because of gender related psychopathology (Beautrais, 2006). With this information, a study conducted by author Anbette Beautrais (2006) presents that women who have undergone abortion are prone to not only physical challenges but also psychological as well. The literature shows that psychological effects of abortion among women may result to depression, high levels of anxiety, and substance abuse disorders (Beautrais, 2006). These effects are psychological in nature and that it can create imbalance to a woman’s mental health.
You can get expert help with your essays right now. Find out more...This information is also supported by cultural bound factors that can also affect the level of acceptance of abortion among women (Beautrais, 2006). This is important to manifest because minority women have different cultural backgrounds on which this can be a defining attribute to creating a positive or negative disposition when it comes to abortion. In this case, psychological factors are attributed to the traumatizing effects of abortion plus the cultural acceptance of the subject in this kind of medical procedure.
The study by Henry David and Zdenek Matejcek (2004) showed that unwanted pregnancies that lead to abortion can result to psychological hung-ups among women. The result of this kind of experience can lead to “increased risks for negative psychosocial behavior and mental-well being” (David & Matejcek, 2004). This shows that abortions which are results from unwanted pregnancies can lead to a negative mental outlook in life. Behavioral effects of this kind of experience can translate to a negative well-being among women. The effects of abortion to mental health can promote negative behavioral manifestation among women. The importance in this literature explores the possibility that abortion can affect not only psychological stability but also it can affect the behavioral tendency of women to act naturally given a normal environmental condition.
Another literature written by Michael Berman (2004) describes the effects of abortion among women as an experience of loss. This information shows that psychologically, the effect of abortion results to a feeling of loss and lack of motivation among women.
Abortion can be termed as a traumatizing experience (Beautrais, 2006); the effect to abortion to a woman can entail the feeling of loss and a sense of grievance on her part. The emotional aspect of abortion is explored in this literature which also supports the notion that psychologically a negative outlook in life and herself are attributed to the well being of the person who have experienced abortion. The effect of abortion psychologically entails mental health challenges which can result to various psychological imbalances on the mental health of women after abortion.
Several literatures also explore that social stigma and perception of women who have undergone abortion is an important factor that has lead to psychological problems and hung-ups (Brickman & Peterson, 2006; Misra, 1998). The role of social stigma and stereotyping that women who have undergone abortion are morally wrong have lead to insecurity and lowered confidence level among subjects (Brickman & Peterson, 2006; Misra, 1998). This shows that social and cultural factors are role players on the psychological dilemma among abortionist women. The social stigma has affected their social and psychological growth because of the notion presented by society in relation to abortion.
Find out how our expert essay writers can help you with your work...The different literature shows the impact and effect of abortion to the psychological state of women. The effects of abortion may entail psychological manifestation on the mental state and behavioral approach of women after undergoing this kind of experience. It is important that proper intervention be applied to help the needs and proper health care among women undergoing similar experiences.
Conclusion
The psychological effects of abortion reflect the significance of this study especially in the British setting. This research explores that abortion among minority women can entail social and emotional challenges that may affect the state of mind among women after abortion. The importance of identifying the different psychological effects of abortion among minority women will open up new ideas that will specifically address the situation on the identified group.
Cultural and physical variance among minority women in the UK will be explored in relation to the different psychological effects of abortion on their mental state. Psychological factors can be dependent on the subject’s cultural beliefs and environmental upbringing. The specifics of the participants will open up new methods in addressing the effects of abortion to ethnic and minority women in the UK.
References
BBC News. (2006). Q&A: Abortion Law. Retrieved October 25, 2007 from:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4350259.stm.
Begue, Laurent. (2001). Social judgment of abortion: a black sheep effect on Catholic
sheepfold. The journal of social psychology. 141, Iss. 5; pg. 640.
Berman, Michael. (2004). Handling Grief: A Doctor's Remedy for Unpreventable Loss.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 74, No. 3, 393-395.
Beautrais, Annette. (2006). Women and suicidal behavior. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis
Intervention and Suicide Prevention. 27, No. 4, 153–156.
Brickman, Danette & Peterson, David. (2006). Public opinion reaction to repeated
events: Citizens response to multiple Supreme Court decision on abortion decisions. Political Behavior. 28, 1, 87-112.
David, Henry & Matejcek, Zdenek. (2004). Unwanted Pregnancies . American
Psychologist. Vol. 59, No. 3.
Kero, A.; et al. (2001). Legal Abortion: a painful necessity. Social Science and Medicine.
Oxford. 53, Iss. 11; pg. 1481.
Lok, Hung Ingrid. Psychological Morbidity after Miscarriage. The sciences and
engineering journal. 68, p. 1567.
Misra, Ranjita. (1998). Effects of gender, age, and race on abortion attitude. The
international journal of sociology and social policy. 18, Iss. 9/10; pg. 94, 25
Robinson, Carin. (2006). From every tribe and nation? Blacks and Christian tribe. Social
Science Quarterly. 6, 591-601.
The Center for Bio Ethical reform. (2007). Abortion Statistics. Retrieved October 24,
2007 from: http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html
We provide a professional essay writing service that thousands of our customers use as an effective way of improving their grades, improving their research and saving them lots of time.
