The Value of Peer Support Groups Among Those Experiencing Miscarriage Grief

We aimed to understand the experiences of miscarriage grief among childbearing people and their perception of helpful and nonhelpful elements of peer support groups.

English-speaking participants, over the age of 18, who personally experienced a miscarriage in the last 10 years were eligible to complete a one-time Qualtrics survey. An international online sample was recruited through social media sites, support groups, and other networks serving childbearing people. A total of 1,709 individuals from the United States and 32 other countries consented to participate. Of those who indicated peer support involvement (n = 115), approximately 95% (n = 109) shared their personal experiences with peer support. Researchers used SPSS to analyze quantitative data and Dedoose to complete an iterative thematic analysis of qualitative responses.

Participants perceived peer support to have both helpful and nonhelpful components. Those who found it helpful had a range of reactions that were grouped into the following major themes: receiving authentic empathy, camaraderie, finding a safe space, learning coping tools and strategies, processing a shared experience, and seeking or providing advice. Those who found the groups unhelpful commented on thematic elements such as the fit and format of the group (i.e., virtual, facilitator type, and structure) and the group feeling overwhelming, uncomfortable, or not specific enough to their needs.

This study's findings suggest that, although perceptions of peer support groups vary depending on format and other elements, such as fit and structure, there are many potentially helpful attributes of these groups to support processing miscarriage grief in a safe space. Health care providers and others caring for those experiencing a pregnancy loss should offer peer support options for individuals who wish to explore them.