Abstract
Recent studies have repeatedly associated posttraumatic symptoms with women's experience of pregnancy loss. Using a nationally representative sample of American women (N = 2,894) from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers, the current study examines long-term psychological outcomes and reactions to pregnancy loss and infertility among mothers and involuntarily childless women. In general, childless women who had experienced pregnancy loss or failure to conceive reported the lowest life satisfaction and highest levels of depression despite a considerable period of time (7 years) since the loss or first year without a conception. However, women with the dual experience of pregnancy loss and involuntary childlessness reported the most fertility-related distress. Results of the current study suggest that the "non-event" of involuntary childlessness may serve as an additional stressor in the traumatic experience of pregnancy loss.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 211-227 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Journal of Loss and Trauma |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 May 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Trauma of pregnancy loss and infertility among mothers and involuntarily childless women in the United States. / Schwerdtfeger, Kami L.; Shreffler, Karina M.
In: Journal of Loss and Trauma, Vol. 14, No. 3, 01.05.2009, p. 211-227.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Trauma of pregnancy loss and infertility among mothers and involuntarily childless women in the United States
AU - Schwerdtfeger, Kami L.
AU - Shreffler, Karina M.
PY - 2009/5/1
Y1 - 2009/5/1
N2 - Recent studies have repeatedly associated posttraumatic symptoms with women's experience of pregnancy loss. Using a nationally representative sample of American women (N = 2,894) from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers, the current study examines long-term psychological outcomes and reactions to pregnancy loss and infertility among mothers and involuntarily childless women. In general, childless women who had experienced pregnancy loss or failure to conceive reported the lowest life satisfaction and highest levels of depression despite a considerable period of time (7 years) since the loss or first year without a conception. However, women with the dual experience of pregnancy loss and involuntary childlessness reported the most fertility-related distress. Results of the current study suggest that the "non-event" of involuntary childlessness may serve as an additional stressor in the traumatic experience of pregnancy loss.
AB - Recent studies have repeatedly associated posttraumatic symptoms with women's experience of pregnancy loss. Using a nationally representative sample of American women (N = 2,894) from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers, the current study examines long-term psychological outcomes and reactions to pregnancy loss and infertility among mothers and involuntarily childless women. In general, childless women who had experienced pregnancy loss or failure to conceive reported the lowest life satisfaction and highest levels of depression despite a considerable period of time (7 years) since the loss or first year without a conception. However, women with the dual experience of pregnancy loss and involuntary childlessness reported the most fertility-related distress. Results of the current study suggest that the "non-event" of involuntary childlessness may serve as an additional stressor in the traumatic experience of pregnancy loss.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449380994&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15325020802537468
DO - 10.1080/15325020802537468
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70449380994
VL - 14
SP - 211
EP - 227
JO - Journal of Loss and Trauma
JF - Journal of Loss and Trauma
SN - 1532-5024
IS - 3
ER -