Community-generated resource library-Adolescence Post-Dobbs: A Policy-Driven Research Agenda for Minor Adolescents and Abortion

Adolescence Post-Dobbs: A Policy-Driven Research Agenda for Minor Adolescents and Abortion

Pdf Summary

The report "Adolescence Post-Dobbs" spearheaded by Youth Reproductive Equity, addresses the gaps in abortion research concerning minors in the US. Post the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, many adolescents now reside in states with heavily restricted abortion access, amplifying previously existing hurdles. This report aims to establish a research agenda focused on assessing abortion policy impacts on minors, a notably underrepresented group in existing studies. The document underscores the need for inclusive research methodologies, emphasizing minors' unique demographic needs and advocating for a framework incorporating reproductive justice and developmental science to inform effective policy.<br /><br />Through a comprehensive policy landscape scan conducted in June 2023, the report categorizes policies into access to abortion, access to abortion information, parental involvement, and minors' privacy on abortion matters. Challenges to conducting abortion research on adolescents include misconceptions about their decision-making capacities, legal constraints, and societal controversies surrounding minors’ reproductive rights. The report proposes targeted strategies to overcome these hurdles including diversifying research samples, improving legal understanding concerning minors’ abortion rights per state, and integrating developmental science to formulate minor-optimized policies.<br /><br />Key recommendations include implementing interdisciplinary research approaches, increasing financial and dissemination support, developing guidelines for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to facilitate minor-inclusive research, and advocating for transparency and unbiased sex education in schools. Moreover, the report calls for a more diverse research workforce to ensure authentic representation in abortion research, ultimately advocating for evidence-based policies that uphold minors’ reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Collaborative efforts among researchers, policy-makers, and advocacy groups are encouraged to foster an inclusive and proactive reproductive equity framework for adolescents nationwide.

Keywords

Adolescence Post-Dobbs

Youth Reproductive Equity

abortion research

minors

Supreme Court Dobbs decision

reproductive justice

developmental science

policy impacts

reproductive rights

inclusive research