Factors related to dimensions of grief intensity among African-American women after pregnancy loss.

Grief is a normal response after pregnancy loss. Potentially, prolonged periods of grief can have a negative impact on physical or mental health. African-American women experience pregnancy loss at rates that are at least twice the rate of any other racial or ethnic group. However, the research literature on pregnancy loss has failed to include representative samples of African-American women or to explore and describe adequately their unique experiences after pregnancy loss. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that are related to grief intensity after pregnancy loss (i.e., miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or fetal death) among African-American women. The results presented in this paper are components of a larger study in which the grief and coping experiences of African-American women following pregnancy loss were examined, using both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Eighty-six (N = 86) African-American women with a self-reported history ofinvoluntary pregnancy loss were recruited using a variety of culturally sensitive methods. The women completed three instruments: the Perinatal Grief Scale-Short Form (PGS-S), the Women's Role Integration Protocol (WRIP), and a personal profile tool designed specifically for the study. Pearson correlations were computed using pairwise deletion. Four models were tested using hierarchical multiple regression. Age and level of role integration were recurring predictors of the various dimensions of grief as measured by the PGS-S. Being older and reporting more major role satisfaction contributed to having less grief intensity after pregnancy loss. It is proposed that women with a history of pregnancy loss be assessed for residual grieving across their life span. Future explorations should address two main areas: specific interpersonal relations that facilitate grief management and the partners' experiences after pregnancy loss.