Embracing Grief: Understanding Perinatal Guilt, Shame, and Coping Behaviours After Miscarriages
Background: Miscarriages can lead to profound psychological distress, particularly in culturally sensitive settings like Pakistan, where motherhood is highly valued. Women often face stigma, self-blame, and isolation, intensifying feelings of guilt and shame, which profoundly influence their psychological well-being and coping mechanisms. Objectives: To examine the effects of guilt, shame, and coping behaviour among women after miscarriages in Pakistan. The study aims to provide valuable insights into factors associated with perinatal mental health. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design and a purposive sampling technique. Online surveys were conducted from 139 women (aged 18-55) who had experienced at least one miscarriage. The sample size was calculated using the sample size calculator by Raosoft, Inc. Women with a history of mental illness before miscarriage were excluded from the study. Data were collected through an Urdu questionnaire comprising a demographic information sheet, the 8-item State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS-8), and the Brief-COPE inventory. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using the statistical software SPSS 27. Results: The study found that guilt and shame are significant positive correlates and predictors of each other among women who have had at least one miscarriage. Guilt negatively affected problem-focused and emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping was more common among older women and those who had experienced more miscarriages. Significant differences in coping strategies were found between women who experienced emotional problems after a miscarriage and those who did not. Conclusion: The study highlights the effects of guilt, shame, and coping strategies among women having miscarriages. It…