Factors Involved in Posttraumatic Growth in Mothers Experiencing Fetal and Infant Death
Shannon Casey1, Alan Schneider2
1Department of Psychology, California Southern University, Chandler, AZ, USA.
Omega
|January 7, 2024
Summary
Mothers experiencing fetal or infant loss reported moderate posttraumatic growth (PTG). Core belief disruption and social support significantly influenced PTG, highlighting the importance of support networks for bereaved mothers.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Bereavement Studies
- Trauma Research
Background:
- Fetal or infant death represents a profound loss for mothers.
- Understanding factors influencing posttraumatic growth (PTG) is crucial for supporting bereaved parents.
- Previous research indicates psychological distress and adaptation challenges following such losses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) in mothers who have experienced fetal or infant death.
- To examine the relationship between core belief disruption, social support, and PTG.
- To explore the role of loss severity and demographic factors in PTG.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 66 mothers completed validated questionnaires including the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI).
- Data were collected on loss severity, gestational age, time since loss, social support, meaning-making, and loss-related behaviors.
- Correlational analyses were used to examine relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Mothers reported a highly traumatic loss and significant core belief disruption, with a moderate level of PTG.
- Core belief disruption was positively correlated with loss severity and fetal/infant age.
- PTG was positively associated with core belief disruption, social support from similar others, and support groups.
- Finding meaning and PTG were linked to involvement in loss-related activities and supporting others.
Conclusions:
- Core belief disruption and social support are significant factors in posttraumatic growth following fetal or infant loss.
- Engaging in loss-related activities and providing support to others may facilitate meaning-making and PTG.
- Interventions aimed at supporting bereaved mothers should address core belief restoration and foster supportive social connections.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Bonanno's Theory of Grieving
77
Grieving is a complex psychological and emotional process that varies significantly among individuals. George Bonanno's research on bereavement identified four distinct patterns of grieving, offering a nuanced understanding of how people cope with significant loss, such as the death of a spouse, over extended periods. These patterns — resilience, recovery, chronic dysfunction, and delayed grief — highlight the diversity in emotional responses and adaptive mechanisms.
Resilience
Resilience
77
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
35
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
35
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
115
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
115
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
55
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
55
01:21Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
72
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross significantly advanced psychology's understanding of the process of dying with her influential book, On Death and Dying (1969). She focused on studying terminally ill individuals and outlined five stages commonly experienced when coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...
72
01:20Traumatic Memory
93
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
93