Open Collections

Carson, Nicole

University of British Columbia

Current research suggests adolescents navigating abortion face a complex landscape marked by challenges related to access and stigmatization. Yet, abortion research has been conducted with little consideration for this life stage within a Canadian context. More specifically, no study to date has explored the personal accounts of young adults who can reflect with insight on their abortion experience. The present study investigated this phenomenon using narrative inquiry. The primary research question for this study asked: What narratives do young adults construct about their experience of abortion during adolescence? By extending this exploration to include the perspectives of abortion counsellors involved in adolescent reproductive healthcare, this study endeavored to provide a comprehensive view of the experience. Thus, the secondary research question asked: What narratives do abortion counsellors construct about their experience working with adolescent populations? Most of the research on adolescent abortion is quantitative and few studies have utilized a narrative research design. Narrative inquiry suggests stories are an entry point through which experiences are interpreted and made meaningful. Three young adults and two abortion counsellors were interviewed and a thematic analysis was conducted within both groups using Braun and Clarke’s (2006, 2019) six-step process. Five main themes emerged from young adults' experiences: (a) Certainty and Immediacy of the Decision; (b) Logistical Hurdles; (c) Enduring Pain and Resilience; (d) Navigating Disclosure Within Support Systems; and (e) Experience as a Catalyst for Advocacy. Four additional themes emerged from abortion counsellors’ experiences: (a) Confronting Stigma and Anti-Abortion Discourse; (b) Beyond Misconceptions; (c) Private Paths; and (d) Empowered Choice. This study contributes to the academic discourse on adolescent reproductive health and provides valuable information for healthcare providers and counselling psychology practitioners about the multifaceted nature of adolescent abortion experiences.

Text

2024-01-23

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87339

Counselling Psychology

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/