The legitimacy of grieving: The partner's experience at miscarriage

Puddifoot, John E.; Johnson, Martin P.

doi:10.1016/s0277-9536(96)00424-8

Cited by 90Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthAttachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and Relationships

The legitimacy of grieving: The partner's experience at miscarriage

Puddifoot, John E., Johnson, Martin P.·1997·Social Science & Medicine

DOI 10.1016/s0277-9536(96)00424-8

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Abstract

Until quite recently the psychological and emotional effects of miscarriage on women were little understood. Research has now established that such effects are potentially very significant (Neugebauer and Kline, 1992; Leppert and Pahlka, 1984; Lasker and Toedter, 1991), but the role and response of the male partner has received very little attention (Cummings, 1984). When acknowledged at all, the response of the male partner has generally been perceived to be largely as a provider of emotional support to his partner during and after her miscarriage. In this study, based on personal interviews with 20 partners of women in the north of England who experienced a recent miscarriage, a complex set of thoughts, feelings and considerable confusion about appropriate behaviour is revealed, to the extent that such males might feel it necessary to deny their own feelings of grief in a double-bind situation.

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A smaller number of studies have found similar grief intensity between men and women.
“However, a smaller number of studies have found similar grief intensity between men and women [24, 25], or even higher levels of grief in men [26].”
From Factors contributing to men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal death: further development of an emerging model in an Australian sample (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
Fathers experience a lack of connection to the baby that died, with some fathers stating they did not have a relationship with their baby, possibly due to an early miscarriage or lack of involvement in pregnancy.
“This lack of connection with the baby was also highlighted in a review by Obst et al. (2020) with some fathers stating they did not have a relationship with their baby that died, possibly due to an early miscarriage or lack of involvement in pregnancy.”
From Fathers’ experiences of perinatal death following miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death: A meta-ethnography (2026) · cites this paper as Puddifoot & Johnson, 1997
Methodological quality of included studies was assessed as high for 11 studies, moderately high for six, and low for one.
“Methodological quality of included studies was assessed as high (n = 11).Six studies were assessed as moderately high with one study of low quality (Puddifoot & Johnson, 1997; See Table 2).”
From Fathers’ experiences of perinatal death following miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death: A meta-ethnography (2026) · cites this paper as Puddifoot & Johnson, 1997
Some fathers coped by avoidance, resulting in relationships fracturing beyond repair, while others stressed that the experience made their couple relationship stronger.
“Although some fathers coped by avoidance, resulting in relationships fracturing beyond repair (Lacroix et al., 2016;Puddifoot & Johnson, 1997;Story Chavez et al., 2019), others stressed how the experience made their couple relationship stronger (Lacroix et al., 2016).”
From Fathers’ experiences of perinatal death following miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death: A meta-ethnography (2026) · cites this paper as Puddifoot & Johnson, 1997

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“Fathers appeared to search for meaning in loss, with some concluding that their partner was at fault: Yes, this is a punishment… I have looked into my soul and know that I have nothing to be punished for, so it must be for her sin… (Puddifoot & Johnson, 1997, p. 842).”
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Self-citation
Active grief, despair and difficulty coping: Some measured characteristics of male response following their partner's miscarriage
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Authors: Puddifoot, J. E., & Johnson, M. P.
Affiliations: Teesside University (GB)
Corresponding author: Puddifoot, John E.
Venue: Social Science & Medicine
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1997-09
Volume: 45
Issue: 6
Pages: 837-845
ISSN: 0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(96)00424-8
OpenAlex: W2127677611
Cited by: 90
References: 26
Citations by year: 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 2.62
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Keywords: miscarriage, grief, male partners, partner experiences, emotional support, double bind, bereavement
MeSH terms: Abortion, Spontaneous, Adult, England, Fathers, Female, Grief, Humans, Male, Pregnancy

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The legitimacy of grieving: The partner's experience at miscarriage

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