Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations University of Queenlsand Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

 
 


Research project

Ms Ingrid Rowlands
PhD Candidate

 

 

 Doctoral Thesis: Coping with Miscarriage: Young women’s experiences
Supervisors: Professor Christina Lee, Dr Nancy Pachana
University: School of Psychology, University of Queensland

Purpose of the study:
This project aims to investigate the predictors and outcomes of miscarriage among young women, to determine who copes well with miscarriage. There are currently two stages to this project.

Stage 1
A series of quantitative analyses examining, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, the correlates and outcomes of miscarriage among young women were conducted. Secondary analyses using existing data from Surveys 1, 2 and 3 of the Younger cohort of the ALSWH examined, cross-sectionally, the demographic, social, gynaecological, and psychological and lifestyles factors associated with miscarriage at each Survey.

Subsequent cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted to further explore the correlates and outcomes of miscarriage. Analyses were completed at the end of 2005, and a selection of the findings was presented at the Annual Scientific Conference for the Australasian Society of Behavioural Health and Medicine in New Zealand in February 2006. We also plan to present additional findings from these analyses at the International Society of Behavioural Medicine conference in Thailand in November this year. Further, there are plans to submit the findings of the analyses for publication late 2006.

Currently, we are conducting a literature review of studies examining the psychological outcomes of miscarriage. Whilst there is lack of literature in this area, the evidence suggests that women are at risk for symptoms of depression and anxiety after miscarriage. High levels of stress and grief are also problematic among women after miscarriage. Although the research in this area tends to report predominantly negative psychological outcomes, there is also evidence showing more positive outcomes after miscarriage. This research provides valuable information on women who cope well after miscarriage and allows treatment options for these women to be developed and improved. The next step is to examine the available evidence investigating the specific coping strategies that women use after miscarriage. This evidence will guide the project’s qualitative research.

Stage 2
The quantitative analyses revealed relatively little about the emotional impact of miscarriage and how this affects coping. It is therefore important to examine how women cope after miscarriage in more depth. Qualitative research is particularly valuable in describing reactions to traumatic events and in exploring substantive areas where there is little systematic quantitative research. During May 2006 we plan to conduct a qualitative study to explore the specific coping strategies that women use after miscarriage. The qualitative research will be undertaken by conducting interviews with young women, from the Brisbane community, who have miscarried. Previous research has shown that particular socio-demographic variables are associated with women’s outcomes after miscarriage. Specifically, there is evidence to suggest that women who have existing children, social support; planned pregnancies and a lower gestational age at the time of loss, may be less likely to be psychologically distressed than their peers. The qualitative research is proposed to identify who does, and does not cope well with miscarriage, and what predicts coping well. Thus, the relationships between these variables will be examined further in the interviews.

 
Link to Project Aims page Link to Project Progress page Link to Project Methods page Link to Project Progress page 		 


 
 

Last updated: 31 October 2006 by Cath Chojenta © Copyright