Psychological consequences of termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly: similarities and differences between partners
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We examined the psychological responses to termination of pregnancy (TOP) for fetal anomaly from both men and women. The aim was to find risk factors for poor psychological outcome both for the individuals and for the couple. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 151 couples 2-7 years after TOP. We used standardized and validated questionnaires to investigate grief, symptoms of posttraumatic stress, somatic complaints, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS: Most couples adapted well to their loss, although several patients had pathological scores on posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression. Differences between men and women were slight. Higher education, good partner support, earlier gestational age, and life-incompatibility of the disorder positively influenced the outcomes, more for women than for men. Men and women with pathological scores rarely had such scores simultaneously. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the importance of equally involving both parents in the counselling because the outcomes of grief and posttraumatic stress symptoms between men and women only moderately differ and post-TOP psychopathology occurs in men as well. Good adjustment to TOP in women seems dependent on the level of support that they perceive from their partners. The intracouple results of the study suggest a mutual influence in the process of grieving between the partners.
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Loss of an unborn child after discovery during pregnancy of fetal malformation or severe chromosomal disorders can be considered a traumatic life event with high psychological impact, especially if termination takes place in the 2nd or 3rd trimester.
“A number of recent studies have revealed that the loss of an unborn child after discovery during pregnancy of fetal malformation or severe chromosomal disorders can be considered as a traumatic life event with high psychological impact. This is especially relevant if the termination of pregnancy takes place in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy.41-43”
From Complicated grief after perinatal loss (2012) · cites this paper as [41]
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- Authors
- Korenromp, M. J., Page-Christiaens, G. C. M. L., van den Bout, J., Mulder, E. J. H., Hunfeld, J. A. M., Bilardo, C. M., Offermans, J. P. M., & Visser, G. H. A.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Korenromp, Marijke J.
- Venue
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- 1226-1233
- ISSN
- 0197-3851 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0223
- OpenAlex
- W2127921608
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Prenatal Diagnosis (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Keywords
- abortion, fetal malformations, psychological impact, grief, posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, couples, partner support, sex differences, counseling, adaptation to loss
- MeSH terms
- Abortion, Induced, Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Educational Status, Female, Fetus, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Parents, Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Regression Analysis, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological
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