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The spread of ‘Post Abortion Syndrome’ as social diagnosis

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  • Kelly, Kimberly

Abstract

This paper examines the content of Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) claims, the social actors involved and how this social diagnosis bypassed professional dissent and diffused into public policy in the United States. Previous works on the spread of PAS focus on almost exclusively on anti-abortion think tanks and policymakers. Missing from these analyses, however, is an emphasis on the grassroots-level actions undertaken by evangelical crisis pregnancy center (CPC) activists in introducing and circulating PAS claims. The CPC movement introduced PAS claims and provided the fodder for anti-abortion think tanks to construct evidence of pro-life claims. Despite dissent from health professionals and academic researchers, CPC PAS claims successfully diffused into federal and state abortion policy. I draw upon Brown et al.’s social diagnosis framework and Armstrong's five-stage model of diagnosis development to frame this account.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelly, Kimberly, 2014. "The spread of ‘Post Abortion Syndrome’ as social diagnosis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 18-25.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:102:y:2014:i:c:p:18-25
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.11.030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steinberg, Julia R. & Finer, Lawrence B., 2011. "Examining the association of abortion history and current mental health: A reanalysis of the National Comorbidity Survey using a common-risk-factors model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(1), pages 72-82, January.
    2. Marianne Bitler & Madeline Zavodny, 2002. "Child Abuse and Abortion Availability," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(2), pages 363-367, May.
    3. Steinberg, Julia Renee & Russo, Nancy F., 2008. "Abortion and anxiety: What's the relationship?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 238-252, July.
    4. Armstrong, Elizabeth M., 1998. "Diagnosing moral disorder: the discovery and evolution of fetal alcohol syndrome," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(12), pages 2025-2042, December.
    5. Brown, Phil & Lyson, Mercedes & Jenkins, Tania, 2011. "From diagnosis to social diagnosis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(6), pages 939-943, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rocca, Corinne H. & Samari, Goleen & Foster, Diana G. & Gould, Heather & Kimport, Katrina, 2020. "Emotions and decision rightness over five years following an abortion: An examination of decision difficulty and abortion stigma," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).

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