A new study led by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has shed light on the burdens parental involvement laws impose on adolescents seeking abortion care, even in states like Colorado where abortion is protected. Researchers say these laws contribute to logistical barriers, heightened stress and delays in accessing care, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations.
The study, published today in the Journal of Adolescent Health , analyzed the experiences of adolescents (ages 15-17) and young adults (18-22) who either sought or considered abortion in the past two years, including adolescents' experiences navigating Colorado's parental notification law. Parental involvement laws require adolescents to obtain consent from or notify their parents or guardians prior to obtaining abortion care, while judicial bypass allows them to attain approval through courts instead of involving a parent. Colorado mandates parental notification.
"The findings emphasize that these laws do not account for the nuanced realities of adolescents' lives and family situations," said Kate Coleman-Minahan, PhD, RN, associate professor at the University of Colorado College of Nursing and lead author of the study. "For some adolescents, involving a parent is not a safe or viable option, and the judicial process often exacerbates the challenges they face."
Adolescents and young adults from families with unsupportive or unstable pre-pregnancy relationships often felt unable to disclose their pregnancy to a parent, and many adolescents experienced stress and lack of control due to Colorado's parental notification law. Importantly, even those who willingly involved a parent faced logistical and emotional challenges due to the law.
Additionally, the judicial bypass process, intended to provide an alternative to mandated parental involvement, was described by participants as stressful and invasive. Participants reported that it delayed access to abortion and, in some cases, resulted in unwanted disclosure to others, violating the privacy the process is intended to protect.
"Proponents of these laws believe they improve family communication; we find no evidence of that in this study, and in fact we found the law complicated already complex family relationships and that adolescents accurately predict their parents' responses," said Coleman-Minahan, emphasizing that adolescent participants with histories of family trauma or instability faced the greatest burdens, with added logistical hurdles, emotional distress and threats to their autonomy.
"This study is a telling picture of the harmful impact these laws can have on adolescents at a critical moment in their lives," she said. "Colorado recently passed a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion, yet our research shows the parental notification law threatens adolescents' ability to access abortion. This is timely now, given that Colorado has seen an increase in adolescents from out of state seeking abortion care, many of whom are traveling hundreds of miles and already face additional burdens."
About the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado – which see more than two million adult and pediatric patient visits yearly. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by $910 million in annual research funding, including $757 million in sponsored awards and $153 million in philanthropic gifts.
