Definitional Distinctions in Response to Perinatal Loss and Fertility Barriers

Abstract

Women of childbearing age may face unanticipated perinatal losses and fertility barriers which challenge emotional well-being. However, the conceptual fit of perinatal and reproductive loss into contemporary grief theory is less well defined. This article utilizes secondary data from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB) (Johnson & White, n.d.) to examine the definitional distinctions between depression, complicated grief, and personal growth. In the study ( N = 4,712), approximately one-third of participants (34%) had experienced a pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or infant/child death, while another one-third (33%) experienced some degree of fertility challenge other than miscarriage. Through descriptive multi-group comparisons and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), we explore definitional distinctions between these groups within constructs of depression, complicated grief, and personal growth. Study findings highlight the complex interrelationships among grief, depression, and personal growth which are interwoven with experiences of perinatal and infant death as well as fertility challenges.