Catherine T. Coyle

• RN, MSN, PhD
• Managing Director at Alliance for Post-Abortion Research and Training

Research concerning men's experience with a partner's abortion is limited. To foster understanding of this topic, the authors used online surveys to gather data from men whose partners underwent induced abortion. A thematic analysis of men's comments about their experience revealed 3 salient themes: loss and grief, helplessness and/or victimization...

From the perspective of peace psychology, the role of abortion in acts of violence against women is explored, with a focus on violence-prevention strategies. Setting aside the political debate, this task force report takes the conflict-transformation approach of considering all perspectives that have concern for the right of women to avoid being vi...

Utilizing an online survey, adult male partners of women who underwent induced abortion were queried concerning the men’s disclosure of the experience to others. Responses were obtained from 101 men who identified positive and negative aspects related to their disclosure. Positive aspects included: relief, spiritual benefits, support, acceptance, e...

Utilizing an online survey, adult male partners of women who underwent induced abortion were queried concerning the men’s disclosure of the experience to others. Responses were obtained from 101 men who identified positive and negative aspects related to their disclosure. Positive aspects included: relief, spiritual benefits, support, acceptance, e...

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between perceptions of preabortion counseling adequacy and partner congruence in abortion decisions and two sets of outcome variables involving relationship problems and individual psychological stress. Data were collected through online surveys from 374 women who had a prior abortion and 198 me...

A mixed methods approach was utilized to investigate men's experience of their partners' elective abortions. Data were collected through in-depth, semistructured interviews and men were evaluated for occurrence and degree of anxiety, anger, and grief using clinical measures. Male participants were found to demonstrate clinical levels of anxiety, hi...

The primary aim of this study was to compare the experience of an early abortion (1st trimester) to a late abortion (2nd and 3rd trimester) relative to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms after controlling for socio-demographic and personal history variables. Online surveys were completed by 374 women who experienced either a 1st trimeste...

This research assesses the effects of a psychology of forgiveness pilot study on anger-recall stress induced changes in myocardial perfusion, forgiveness and related variables. Thirty-two patients were administered baseline rest and anger-recall stress imaging studies, and 17 of these participants who demonstrated anger-recall stress induced myocar...

To examine associations between abortion and relationship functioning. Independent variables included abortion in a previous relationship and abortion in a current relationship. Perceptions of quality-of-life changes associated with terminating the relationship, conflict, aggressiveness and sexual dysfunction were the outcome measures. Data were de...

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between abortion history and a wide range of anxiety (panic disorder, panic attacks, PTSD, Agoraphobia), mood (bipolar disorder, mania, major depression), and substance abuse disorders (alcohol and drug abuse and dependence) using a nationally representative US sample, the national comorbidity s...

Previous research indicates that abortion increases risk for experiencing difficulties maintaining committed relationships, sexual dysfunction, and psychological problems. In the present descriptive study, associations between abortion and attitudes and behaviors associated with casual sexual activity were examined after controlling for family of o...

Research concerning elective abortion has focused on women. However, as men are involved in conception and termination, they may also be affected by abortion. Empirical reports concerning the psychological impact of elective abortion on men are reviewed. Common findings suggest ambivalent reactions including relief, grief, and sadness, a desire on...

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal history of induced abortion and subsequent frequency of child-directed aggressive behavior in a sample of mothers of children who have been abused or neglected. The mothers were either the perpetrators of the maltreatment or they allowed someone else to mistreat...

This study explored maternal history of perinatal loss relative to risk of child physical abuse and neglect. The 518 study participants included 118 abusive mothers, 119 neglecting mothers, and 281 mothers with no known history of child maltreatment. Interviews and observations were conducted in the participants' homes, and comparisons were made be...

This article explores two questions: “Are forgiveness and reconciliation synonymous?” and “Are both forgiveness and reconciliation necessary for psychological healing?” The questions are discussed in the context of abuse. A process model of forgiveness is described and relevant research is summarized. The author concludes that forgiveness and recon...

An intervention designed to foster forgiveness was implemented with postabortion men. Participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control (wait list) condition, which received treatment after a 12-week waiting period. Following treatment, the participants demonstrated a significant gain in forgiveness and significant reductio...

An intervention designed to foster forgiveness was implemented with postabortion men. Participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control (wait list) condition, which received treatment after a 12-week waiting period. Following treatment, the participants demonstrated a significant gain in forgiveness and significant reductio...