Journal Article
It's Roe's Problem: Gendered Ways College Students Are Emotionally Reacting to the U.S. Abortion Ban
Carly Young · Women's Reproductive Health · Published online Feb 17, 2026
Using grounded theory techniques to analyze qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 32 undergraduate students at a large public university in Texas, this article documents the emotional consequences of the abortion ban among a population known for high rates of sexual activity. Following the Dobbs decision, Texas shut down all legal access to procedural abortion and abortion pills — posing significant risks to young adults' reproductive lives. This study examines how students emotionally process and respond to these restrictions, revealing gendered patterns in who bears the psychological burden of the ban.