Protective and risk factors for women’s mental health after a spontaneous abortion

Abstract

Objective: to examine personal and contextual protective and risk factors associated with women’s mental health after a spontaneous abortion. Method: a cross-sectional study was carried out where 231 women who had experienced spontaneous abortions in the past 4 years answered a self-reporting online questionnaire to assess their mental health (symptoms of depression, anxiety, perinatal grief) and to collect personal as well as contextual characteristics. Results: women who had experienced spontaneous abortions within the past 6 months had higher scores for depressive symptoms than those who had experienced spontaneous abortions between 7 and 12 months ago, while anxiety level and perinatal grief did not vary according to the time since the loss. Moreover, low socioeconomic status, immigrant status, and childlessness were associated with worse mental health after a spontaneous abortion. In contrast, the quality of the conjugal relationship and the level of satisfaction with health care were positively associated with women’s mental health. Conclusion: women in vulnerable situations, such as immigrants, women with a low socioeconomic status, or childless women are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems after a spontaneous abortion. However, beyond those personal and contextual factors, the quality of the conjugal relationship and the level of satisfaction with health care could be important protective factors.

Complicated Grief After the Loss of a Baby: A Systematic Review About Risk and Protective Factors for Bereaved Women

“… The study indicated that depressive symptoms and perinatal grief may persist long after a miscarriage, for more than 2 years after the loss Results also revealed that symptoms of perinatal grief decreased significantly over time only for women with children and for women who were satisfied with health services. Fair DeMontigny et al, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.3382.3350 Canada Protective and risk factors for women’s mental health after a spontaneous abortion. 231 women who had experienced spontaneous abortion in the past 4 years.…”

“…According to Table 1 , it is possible to note that, among the selected studies, 34.78% were published by researchers from North America (the USA and Canada) (Clark et al, 2021 ; DeMontigny et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Goldstein et al, 2019 ; Hawthorne et al, 2016 ; Keim et al, 2017 ; Kerns et al, 2018 ; Paris et al, 2016 ), being 4.34% originated in Latin America, resulting from a partnership between Brazil and Canada (Paris et al, 2016 ). The other articles include Europe (UK, Spain, Sweden, and France), corresponding to 30.43% of the publications selected (Druguet et al, 2018 ; Kokou-Kpolou et al, 2018 ; Lafarge et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Ridaura et al, 2017 ; Volgsten, et al, 2018a , b ; Volgsten, et al, 2018a , b ), Asia (India, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Israel), with 17.39% of the publications selected (Al-Maharma et al, 2016 ; Kulathilaka et al, 2016 ; Roberts & Lee, 2014 ; Roberts et al, 2021 ), and Australia (13.04%) (Inati et al, 2018 ; Pollock et al, 2021 ; Wilson et al, 2015 ).…”

“…From the articles included, 60.86% used a cross-sectional design (Al-Maharma et al, 2016 ; Clark et al, 2021 ; deMontigny et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Druguet et al, 2018 ; Inati et al, 2018 ; Keim et al, 2017 ; Kerns et al, 2018 ; Kokou-Kpolou et al, 2018 ; Lafarge et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Paris et al, 2016 ; Pollock et al, 2021 ; Roberts et al, 2021 ), and 39.13% used a cohort design (Goldstein et al, 2019 ; Hawthorne et al, 2016 ; Kulathilaka et al, 2016 ; Mashiach et al, 2013 ; Ridaura et al, 2017 ; Roberts & Lee, 2014 ; Volgsten, et al, 2018a , b ; Volgsten, et al, 2018a , b ; Wilson et al, 2015 ).…”

Miscarriage: a social networks users’ point of view

“…A comparative study on quality of life among women with and without recurrent miscarriage using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) demonstrated that women with recurrent miscarriage reported extensive functional disability, and lower level of well-being compared to women without recurrent miscarriage (5). Results from another study indicated that anxiety, depression, and perinatal grief can persist for a long period after miscarriage (6). Also, more attention should be given to women in vulnerable situations, such as immigrant women, women with low socioeconomic status, or childless women.…”

“…Also, more attention should be given to women in vulnerable situations, such as immigrant women, women with low socioeconomic status, or childless women. Beyond those personal and contextual factors, the quality of the conjugal relationship and the level of satisfaction with health care appeared to be important protective factors against mental health problems after a spontaneous abortion (6). In couples with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), medical professionals need to take a holistic and couple-focused approach in their treatment including attention to the psychological impact and cumulative effect of the multiple RPL on the couple (7).…”