Men and Miscarriage: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis

Williams, Helen; Topping, Annie; Coomarasamy, Arri; Jones, Laura

doi:10.1177/1049732319870270

Cited by 48 publications

(54 citation statements)

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“…Recently, three reviews were published in areas relating to men's experiences of pregnancy/neonatal loss. However, two of these were scoping reviews rather than systematic [48,49], and the other thematically synthesised only qualitative studies on men's lived experiences of miscarriage [50]. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive summary and appraisal of existing qualitative and quantitative literature on men's grief, following both pregnancy loss and neonatal loss.…”

Section: Previous Literature On Grief Following Pregnancy Loss and Nementioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model

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Oxlad

et al. 2020

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

113

104

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Background: Emotional distress following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss is common, with enduring grief occurring for many parents. However, little is known about men's grief, since the majority of existing literature and subsequent bereavement care guidelines have focused on women. To develop a comprehensive understanding of men's grief, this systematic review sought to summarise and appraise the literature focusing on men's grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken with searches completed across four databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL). These were guided by two research questions: 1) what are men's experiences of grief following pregnancy/neonatal loss; and 2) what are the predictors of men's grief following pregnancy/neonatal loss? Eligible articles were qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods empirical studies including primary data on men's grief, published between 1998 and October 2018. Eligibility for loss type included miscarriage or stillbirth (by any definition), termination of pregnancy for nonviable foetal anomaly, and neonatal death up to 28 days after a live birth. Results: A final sample of 46 articles were identified, including 26 qualitative, 19 quantitative, and one mixed methods paper. Findings indicate that men's grief experiences are highly varied, and current grief measures may not capture all of the complexities of grief for men. Qualitative studies identified that in comparison to women, men may face different challenges including expectations to support female partners, and a lack of social recognition for their grief and subsequent needs. Men may face double-disenfranchised grief in relation to the pregnancy/neonatal loss experience. Conclusion: There is a need to increase the accessibility of support services for men following pregnancy/neonatal loss, and to provide recognition and validation of their experiences of grief. Cohort studies are required among varied groups of bereaved men to confirm grief-predictor relationships, and to refine an emerging socio-ecological model of men's grief.

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Section: Previous Literature On Grief Following Pregnancy Loss and Nementioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model

Obst

Due

Oxlad

et al. 2020

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

113

104

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…50 Eligibility will be limited to men with the most recent loss no more than 12 months ago to facilitate recall, and without any infertility diagnosis to eliminate possible confusion with experiences of other reproductive challenges. Our previous research 26 and consultations with members of the target population suggest that psychosocial responses to miscarriages may be influenced by perceptions of parenthood. 26 Therefore, we will recruit purposively 73 to achieve maximum demographic variation among men who identify themselves as parents and those who do not.…”

Section: Methods and Analysis Theoretical Orientation And Study Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Our previous research 26 and consultations with members of the target population suggest that psychosocial responses to miscarriages may be influenced by perceptions of parenthood. 26 Therefore, we will recruit purposively 73 to achieve maximum demographic variation among men who identify themselves as parents and those who do not. On the basis of experience gained in comparable studies, we anticipate that between 30 and 50 participants will be enrolled.…”

Section: Methods and Analysis Theoretical Orientation And Study Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…We were unable to identify any previous research dedicated to examine the effects of more than a single loss before 24 weeks of gestation among men. 26 The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology has observed the gap in the evidence and in November 2017 explicitly recommended investigative action to remedy it. 56 This manuscript presents the protocol of an empirical study designed to explore male experiences and support requirements with a qualitative approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Men living through multiple miscarriages: protocol for a qualitative exploration of experiences and support requirements

et al. 2020

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IntroductionUp to 1 in 4 pregnancies and 1 in 20 subsequent pregnancies end in miscarriage. Despite such prevalence the psychosocial effects are often unrecognised and unsupported. In the absence of any biomedical sequelae among men such marginalisation may be intensified. Men living through multiple miscarriages may also find any grief or anxiety intensified by loss of hope for future parenthood, but robust qualitative studies of these experiences are limited. We aim to rectify the deficiency.Methods and analysisOur qualitative study will adopt the sounds of silence framework designed by Serrant-Green to hear the voices of populations possibly marginalised. We will listen and learn from 30 to 50 men with a history of two or more miscarriages. The research participants will be recruited from a recurrent miscarriage clinic at a large tertiary hospital in England, and from advertisements to be disseminated by the project sponsor and miscarriage charities.Individual telephone interviews supported by a semistructured discussion guide will be audio-recorded, transcribed and anonymised. The transcriptions and any field notes will be interpreted by the framework method of Ritchie and Lewis embedded within the sounds of silence framework. Tentative findings will be presented to research participants in face-to-face focus group discussion, to enable member synthesis to enhance authenticity. The focus group discussion will be audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymised and similarly interpreted to contribute to our final synthesis.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol of this project received a favourable opinion from the West Midlands South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee (16/WM/0423). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences, and disseminated via newsletters and social media of our clinical collaborators and miscarriage charities. Outputs are anticipated to inform future policy and practice in the management of multiple miscarriages.Trial registration numberISRCTN 21828561.

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“…The obstetric history of the pregnant partner might further influence paternal concerns. Miscarriages are not uncommon and affect in early pregnancy up to one out of five women (90), with a negative influence on psychological well-being also in fathers (91,92). Previous qualitative and quantitative studies indicate that fathers might feel a higher sense of risk during a subsequent pregnancy after perinatal loss and also report higher pregnancy-related worries (93)(94)(95)(96).…”

Section: Associations With Obstetric Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manifestation and Associated Factors of Pregnancy-Related Worries in Expectant Fathers

et al. 2020

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Background: During the last decades, fathers have increasingly participated in prenatal care, birth preparation classes, and childbirth. However, comparably little is known about the prenatal emotional well-being of fathers, particularly content and extent of broader paternal concerns that may arise during pregnancy beyond those focusing on childbirth. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the manifestation of paternal pregnancy-related worries in a population-based sample and to identify relevant associated factors.Materials and Methods: As part of a longitudinal pregnancy cohort at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, N = 129 expectant fathers were assessed once during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related worries centering around medical procedures, childbirth, health of the baby, as well as socioeconomic aspects were assessed with the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). Additionally, paternal socioeconomic background and maternal obstetrical history, symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression, and level of hostility were investigated, as well as perceived social support. The cross-sectional data were analyzed based on multiple regression analyses.Results: The level of reported worries was overall low. Some fathers reported major worries for individual aspects like the health of a significant other (10.9%) and the baby (10.1%), as well as the current financial (6.2%) and employment situation (8.5%). Pregnancy-related worries were negatively associated with household income and positively associated with anxious and depressive symptoms and low perceived social support. Associations varied for specific pregnancy-related worries.Limitations: Due to the cross-sectional data examined in this study, a causal interpretation of the results is not possible. The sample was rather homogeneous regarding its socioeconomic background. More research needs to be done in larger, more heterogeneous samples.Conclusion: Though overall worries were rather low in this sample, specific major worries could be identified. Hence, addressing those fathers reporting major worries regarding specific aspects already in prenatal care might support their psychosocial adjustment. Fathers with little income, those with elevated levels of general anxious and depressive symptoms, and those with less social support reported higher pregnancy-related worries. Our results indicate the relevance of concerns beyond health- and birth-related aspects that could be relevant for fathers. Measurements developed specifically for expectant fathers are needed to properly capture their perspective already during pregnancy.

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Men and Miscarriage: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis

Cited by 48 publications

References 53 publications

Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model

Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model

Men living through multiple miscarriages: protocol for a qualitative exploration of experiences and support requirements

Manifestation and Associated Factors of Pregnancy-Related Worries in Expectant Fathers

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