Coping styles and mental health outcomes in partners who have experienced a perinatal loss: a longitudinal study
By
Luke Tarmey
Jane Iles
Lydia Poole
July 14, 2026
Objective: To examine psychological outcomes and coping strategies among recently bereaved partners following perinatal loss.
Approach: Study Design: Longitudinal analysis with online surveys at baseline (T1) and six-month follow-up (T2) involving 73 participants.Participants: Predominantly male (78%), aged 25–44 (90%), experiencing various perinatal losses.Assessment Tools: Grief and depression symptoms assessed using the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) and PHQ-9.Data Analysis: Multivariate regression analyses to examine coping styles, demographic characteristics, and loss-related factors.Key Findings: 38% of participants displayed moderate-to-severe depression symptoms at follow-up. Avoidant coping was associated with higher grief and depression scores at baseline (PHQ-9: β =.30, p =.007; PGS: β =.49, p <.001). Stillbirth, female gender, and younger age correlated with greater psychological distress at baseline (β =.21–.32, p ≤.05). Interpretation:
Limitations: Small sample size (N = 73) may limit generalizability. Findings may not be applicable to all demographics or types of perinatal loss. Conclusion:
