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Table 3 Changes in mental health outcomes between T1 and T4 in each pregnancy termination group. Cohen's d estimates the changes in outcome variables in the two pregnancy termination groups. Within-group analysis was performed using paired t-tests and between-group analysis was performed using ANCOVA (estimated with controls for all four possible confounders, i.e. marital status, number of children, vocational activity and former psychiatric health).

From: The course of mental health after miscarriage and induced abortion: a longitudinal, five-year follow-up study

Outcome at corresponding interviews:

Change in the miscarriage group from T1 to T4: Cohen's d

Change in the induced abortion group from T1 to T4: Cohen's d

Differential change between groups from T1–T4: Exact p-value

IES intrusion

1.92***

0.85***

p = 0.096

IES avoidance

1.20***

0.21**

p = 0.003

Quality of life

-0.69***

-0.40**

p = 0.628

HADS anxiety

0.10

0.02

p = 0.999

HADS depression

0.80**

0.30*

p = 0.314

Feelings, rated 1–5:

   

Relief

-0.50

0.07

p = 0.081

Grief

1.54***

0.41***

p = 0.015

Loss

1.22***

0.08

p = 0.007

Guilt

0.93***

0.00

p < 0.001

Shame

0.47

0.17

p = 0.088

Anger

0.86***

0.34**

p = 0.027

  1. T1 = 10 days after pregnancy termination
  2. T4 = five years after pregnancy termination
  3. Significant change from T1 to T4 (in each pregnancy termination group) by paired t-test: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.