The Perceived Impact of a Post-Dobbs Landscape on U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE(S): To capture the perspectives and knowledge of adolescents and young adults on abortion-related topics following the Dobbs decision. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative content analysis of an open-ended, five-question survey fielded on October 28, 2022 via the MyVoice project, a nationwide weekly text message poll of 14-24-year-olds. RESULTS: We found the respondents (N=565, response rate 71%) had a mean age of 20.0 years and resided in 47 states. Many described pro- or anti-abortion changes to abortion access in their state, though expressed mixed emotions about the changes (negative, positive, or mixed/neutral). Most often, they had conversations about abortion with peers (28%), followed by parents or family (20%); nearly 20% stated they have never had a conversation about abortion. The majority of respondents (55%) believed they and their peers should have access to abortion care without required parental consent/notification, frequently citing individual rights/autonomy (31%) followed by harms of parental involvement (12%). Most (79%) provided a technique for how to determine if online information about abortion was trustworthy. CONCLUSION(S): Four months after the Dobbs decision, this national sample of adolescents and young adults were aware of changes to abortion access, had conversations about abortion, shared diverse opinions on parental consent or notification laws, and could determine trustworthiness of online abortion resources. Abortion-related policy and practice can be improved by understanding adolescents' and young adults' needs and preferences, trusting and supporting their autonomy, and reducing barriers to care. IMPLICATIONS STATEMENT: This study highlights the timely perspectives and experiences of a diverse, nationwide sample of adolescents and young adults on abortion-related topics. Findings can support centering adolescents and young adults in practice and policy changes to improve their knowledge about abortion and streamline access to essential reproductive health services post-Dobbs.

"Time and money and support": Adolescents and young adults' perceived social and logistical support needs for safe abortion care.

OBJECTIVE: To understand what support adolescents and young adults need to access abortion amidst the changing legal landscape. STUDY DESIGN: A diverse nationwide sample (N = 638, response rate 78%) of individuals aged 14-24 responded to a text message survey in July 2022 about the social and logistical support they would need for safe abortion access. Responses were coded and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Respondents described parents and friends as primary sources of social support for potential abortion decisions. They frequently cited money and transportation as logistical support needs for out-of-state abortion care. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents and young adults report needing social support and specific resources to ensure access to abortion. IMPLICATIONS: This study highlights the perspectives and experiences of a diverse, nationwide sample of adolescents and young adults on their perceived abortion-related social and logistical support needs. These findings can support centering adolescents and young adults in practice and policy change to minimize barriers, improve social support, tailor resources and information about abortion, and streamline access to essential reproductive health services in a post-Dobbs landscape.

A Nationwide Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults Share Where They Would Go Online for Abortion Information After Dobbs v. Jackson.

PURPOSE: Given the changing landscape of abortion access, we sought to understand where adolescents and young adults retrieve information about abortion online. METHODS: A nationwide sample (n = 638) of 14- to 24-year-olds responded to a qualitative text message survey in July 2022 regarding websites or social media they would use for abortion-related information. Open-ended responses were coded and analyzed for themes. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of respondents (n = 234) named specific websites or accounts of known organizations or individuals; 14% named general clinical or governmental resources; and 13% named social media platforms. Eight percent expressed skeptical sentiments about online abortion information. 17% (n = 99) said they were not sure or did not have an opinion. DISCUSSION: Many adolescents and young adults could name an online resource for abortion information, but some are not aware of specific resources, underscoring a need to elevate reputable sources and provide guidance on how and where to look for accurate online abortion-related information.

Adolescent Awareness of the Changing Legal Landscape of Abortion in the United States and Its Implications.

PURPOSE: Restrictions on abortion in the United States will have disproportionate and negative impacts on adolescents. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling to overturn federal protection of abortion, we sought to examine adolescents' awareness and knowledge about the legal landscape of abortion and how changes might affect them. METHODS: We fielded a 5-question open-ended survey via text message to a nationwide sample of adolescents aged 14-24 years on May 20, 2022. We coded the responses using inductive consensus coding. Summary statistics were calculated for code frequencies and demographic data, and analyzed qualitatively using visual inspection of results overall and by subgroups (e.g., age, race and ethnicity, gender, and restrictiveness of state of residence). RESULTS: A total of 654 responded (79% response rate), of which 11% were under 18 years. Most adolescents were aware of potential changes to abortion access. Most adolescents reported using the internet and social media for information about abortions. Overall, negative emotions about the changing legal landscape predominated, including anger, fear, and sadness. When considering factors for abortion decisions, adolescents most often discussed finances and life circumstances including their future, age, education, maturity, and emotional stability. Themes were relatively, uniformly distributed across subgroups. DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that many adolescents are aware of and concerned about potential impacts of abortion restrictions, across a diversity of ages, gender, racial/ethnic, and geographic perspectives. Understanding and amplifying the voices of adolescents during this critical time is necessary to inform novel access solutions and policy initiatives that center the needs of youth.