Self‐reported mental health and the Dobbs decision: Variation by State abortion laws

Abstract

When a US Supreme Court ruling allowed states to ban abortion, women of childbearing age in the states where abortion became illegal reported higher rates of anxiety symptoms compared to similar‐aged women in other states and older women in the same states. This study highlights how people respond to major policy changes and underscores the importance of mental health as a measure of well‐being for policymakers and researchers.