Trauma Following Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Abnormality: Is This the Path From Guilt to Grief?

Abstract

Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality (TOPFA) is a potentially traumatic event that may lead to intense grief symptomatology. The present study included 41 couples who were assessed 1–6 months after TOPFA. No gender differences were found regarding the intensity of trauma symptomatology or the prevalence of clinically relevant trauma symptomatology, present in about a third of the sample. Most couples were congruent regarding trauma symptomatology. Women experienced guilt with significantly more frequency than men. For both genders, guilt influenced both trauma and grief symptomatology. For women only, guilt influenced grief symptomatology indirectly, through trauma symptomatology. Clinical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• couple
• grief symptomatology
• guilt
• termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality
• trauma symptomatology

Acknowledgments

This study is part of the “Reproductive Decisions and Transition to Parenthood Following a Pre- or Postnatal Diagnosis of Fetal Abnormality” research project, integrated in the Relationships, Development & Health Research Group of the R&D Unit Institute of Cognitive Psychology, Vocational and Social Development of the University of Coimbra (Pest-OE/PSI/UI0192/2011). Bárbara Nazaré and Ana Fonseca are supported by PhD scholarships from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/43204/2008 and SFRH/BD/47053/2008, respectively).

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bárbara Nazaré

Bárbara Nazaré is a PhD student in health psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal. As a clinical psychologist, she is a collaborator of the Unit of Psychological Intervention of Maternity Doctor Daniel de Matos, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.

Ana Fonseca

Ana Fonseca is a PhD student in clinical psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal. As a clinical psychologist, she is a collaborator of the Unit of Psychological Intervention of Maternity Doctor Daniel de Matos, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.

Maria Cristina Canavarro

Maria Cristina Canavarro is a full professor, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal. She is also the coordinator of the Unit of Psychological Intervention of Maternity Doctor Daniel de Matos, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.