An investigation of anxiety following termination of pregnancy.

This study reports the results of an investigation into the immediate effects of termination of pregnancy on levels of anxiety experienced by a group of 21 women, half of whom had supportive partners, and the other half of whom did not. Subjects were interviewed and administered the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory within hours of their operation, and the scores for the two groups were compared. Results indicated that support of a partner was the best predictor of state, but not trait anxiety, and that state anxiety was the only variable which distinguished the women with supportive partners from those without supportive partners. Implications for the provision of immediate post-termination counselling support are discussed.