Adolescents’ political and personal responses to recent policies restricting abortion and gender-affirming care

Abstract

Objectives

Restrictive policies on abortion and gender-affirming care have increased in recent years, particularly in some Midwest states, and can have a disproportionate impact on young people. We sought to explore adolescent perspectives on such policies.

Study design

We conducted virtual semistructured interviews with 39 participants aged 16 to 19 residing in the Midwest between April and June 2023, exploring participant reactions to state policies on abortion and gender-affirming care.

Results

Analysis revealed most participants opposed these restrictions, expressing concerns about the politicization of health care and the impact on their lives and the lives of loved ones. Policies also influenced future living decisions, with many expressing that a state’s policies on abortion and gender-affirming care would impact whether they wanted to attend college or live there.

Conclusions

This study highlights the largely negative responses of young people who will be voting for the first time in the 2024 elections to restrictive policies on abortion and gender-affirming care in the Midwest.

Implication

Findings indicate that policy makers should take into account young peoples attitude towards gender affeiming care and abortion bans when conaidering future legislation.