Grief experiences of fathers who have lost a child: A systematic review

Parental bereavement has both intrapersonal and interpersonal effects. Although gender differences in grief are acknowledged, the ways in which fathers experience the grief process after the loss of a child have been largely neglected. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of fathers' grief processes and the psychological impacts of bereavement while also comparing study methodologies. The CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched with relevant keywords in December 2023 and 18 studies (9 quantitative, 8 qualitative, and 1 mixed) were identified. The findings predominantly demonstrate that while fathers may appear less affected than mothers, their grief processes may endure for extended periods. Fathers often use maladaptive coping strategies, leading to psychological disorders such as depression and PTSD. Interpreted through the lens of the Dual Process Model, these results highlight the significant psychological impact of child loss on fathers.