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Miscarriage, Perceived Ostracism, and Trauma: A Preliminary Investigation
Eric D Wesselmann1, Leandra Parris2
1Department of Psychology, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, United States.
Frontiers in Psychology
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Women experiencing miscarriage often feel ostracized, which correlates with increased posttraumatic stress symptoms. This social isolation exacerbates mental health concerns following pregnancy loss.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Miscarriage is a traumatic event with significant mental health consequences.
- Social support is crucial, yet miscarriage is often avoided in conversations, leading to feelings of ostracism for bereaved individuals.
- Ostracism can compound mental health issues, including posttraumatic stress and grief intensity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between perceived ostracism, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and grief intensity in women who have experienced miscarriage.
- To determine if perceived ostracism predicts posttraumatic stress symptoms beyond grief intensity.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 97 cisgender women who experienced miscarriage was recruited via Qualtrics Panel Recruitment Services.
- Participants completed measures assessing posttraumatic stress symptoms, perceived ostracism, and grief intensity (including grief congruence).
Main Results:
- Perceived ostracism showed a positive correlation with posttraumatic stress symptoms.
- Perceived ostracism was negatively correlated with grief congruence, indicating less satisfaction with the miscarriage experience.
- Perceived ostracism explained additional variance in posttraumatic stress symptoms, independent of grief intensity measures.
Conclusions:
- Social isolation and ostracism are significant factors impacting the mental health of women after miscarriage.
- Addressing feelings of ostracism may be crucial in mitigating posttraumatic stress symptoms and improving coping mechanisms following pregnancy loss.
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