Couples and Miscarriage: The Influence of Gender and Reproductive Factors on the Impact of Miscarriage

ObjectiveWe sought to understand the effect of gender, age, mental health history, and reproductive factors on the appraisal of miscarriage in couples.DesignWe conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Couples Miscarriage Healing Project.SampleWe analyzed data from 341 couples who had miscarried within 3 months of the original study recruitment.MethodMultifactorial analysis of variance was used to analyze baseline effects of gender, age, mental health history, infertility, number of miscarriages, living children, and gestational age on the impact of miscarriage as measured by the three subscales of the Revised Impact of Miscarriage Scale: Isolation/Guilt, Devastating Event, and Loss of Baby.ResultsWomen scored significantly higher than men on all measures. Younger couples in whom either member had been previously treated for anxiety, depression, or grief were more likely to feel guilt and isolation over their miscarriage than those with no such history (13.30 vs. 11.64; p < .0001) and older couples with and without a mental health treatment history. Younger couples were also more likely to identify miscarriage as the “loss of a baby” and feel more devastated than older couples. Couples with infertility were more devastated (14.30 vs. 11.20; p < .01) and felt more isolation/guilt related to miscarriage (13.59 vs. 12.72; p < .05).ConclusionsIn general, couples experiencing miscarriage after 8 weeks gestation were more impacted than when the miscarriage occurred before 8 weeks. Recommendations for future practice and research are discussed.