Predicting grief intensity after recent perinatal loss
Abstract
Objective The Perinatal Grief Intensity Scale (PGIS) was developed for clinical use to identify and predict intense grief and need for follow-up after perinatal loss. This study evaluates the validity of the PGIS via its ability to predict future intense grief based on a PGIS score obtained early after a loss.Methods A prospective observational study was conducted with 103 international, English-speaking women recruited at hospital discharge or via the internet who experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death within the previous 8weeks. Survey data were collected at baseline using the PGIS and the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS). Follow-up data on the PGS were obtained 3months later. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis.Results Cronbach's alphas were ≥0.70 for both instruments. PGIS factor analysis yielded three factors as predicted, explaining 57.7% of the variance. The optimal cutoff identified for the PGIS was 3.535. No difference was found when the ability of the PGIS to identify intense grief was compared to the PGS (p=0.754). The PGIS was not inferior to the PGS (AUC=0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.88, p<0.001) in predicting intense grief at the follow-up. A PGIS score≥3.53 at baseline was associated with increased grief intensity at Time 2 (PGS: OR=1.97, 95% CI 1.59-2.34, p<0.001).Conclusions The PGIS is comparable to the PGS, has a lower response burden, and can reliably and validly predict women who may experience future intense grief associated with perinatal loss.
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Early psychological screening, such as the Perinatal Grief Intensity Scale (PGIS), can assist in the early detection of psychological disorders.
“Early psychological screening, such as the Perinatal Grief Intensity Scale (PGIS), can assist in the early detection of psychological disorders. 35”
From Desired Care for Perinatal Bereavement: Meeting the Needs of Mothers After Discharge From the Hospital—a Qualitative Study (2024) · cites this paper as [35]
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“35 Furthermore, the study’s finding suggest that parent awareness of mood changes during grief and knowledge of coping strategies can decrease stress and prevent potential consequences.”
Background
- Authors
- Hutti, M. H., Myers, J., Hall, L. A., Polivka, B. J., White, S., Hill, J., Kloenne, E., Hayden, J., & Grisanti, M. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Louisville (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hutti, Marianne H.
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-10
- Volume
- 101
- Pages
- 128-134
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2741372171
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 5.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation
- 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 › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- perinatal loss, grief intensity, Perinatal Grief Scale, miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, scale validity, factor structure, cut-off values
- MeSH terms
- Abortion, Spontaneous, Adult, Female, Grief, Humans, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Stillbirth, Perinatal Death
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