More restrictive abortion laws, higher depression risk
Medical Xpress
March 5, 2026
Restrictive abortion policies are associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms among women, according to a new 25-year study conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The equivalent of approximately four additional restrictive laws was linked to a 7% increase in depressive symptoms among women. The study findings contribute to the small but growing body of literature documenting potential adverse mental health consequences of restrictive abortion legislation. The results are published in the journal SSM-Mental Health.
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Originally published on Medical Xpress on 3/5/2026