Relationship Outcomes Following Involuntary Pregnancy Loss: The Role of Perceived Incongruent Grief

Abstract

Involuntary pregnancy loss is a common and often traumatic event for couples. To examine the impact of pregnancy loss on relationship stability, this study examined how perceived incongruent grief (i.e., differences in grief responses as perceived by mothers) influenced relationship outcomes. Thirty-nine women who had experienced an involuntary pregnancy loss participated in an online survey that measured women’s self-reported grief, perceptions of their partner’s grief, and relationship satisfaction and commitment. It was predicted that perceived incongruent grief would be negatively related to satisfaction and commitment, and satisfaction would mediate the association between incongruent grief and commitment. T tests indicated that women perceived that they grieved more intensely than their partners. Regression analyses demonstrated that women’s grief negatively predicted satisfaction. Perceived incongruent grief was also negatively related to satisfaction but not commitment. Considering the impact of perceived incongruent grief on satisfaction, these findings have implications for mental health professionals working with couples following pregnancy loss.