Coping After Involuntary Pregnancy Loss: Perspectives of Spanish European Women

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover the coping strategies used by Spanish (European) women to cope with a pregnancy loss. Sixteen women with miscarriages and stillbirths were interviewed. All of the women were Spanish European. The mean age of the women was 35 years, and most were university graduates, married, employed, and with living children. Audio-recorded interviews and field notes were transcribed and then subsequently coded and analyzed in individual or team sessions. Construction and confirmation of the categories and related themes derived from the data was a collaborative process. Two themes emerged regarding the coping strategies used by women: talking and avoiding. This study expands the theoretical model “Multicultural Model of Coping after Pregnancy Loss” and guides health providers regarding interventions used in practice.