Psychological distress and management of women who experienced miscarriage during the COVID-19 pandemic Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The purpose of this mixed methods study is to explore the experiences of women in Eastern North Carolina after suffering a miscarriage during the COVID pandemic and their preferences in receiving psychosocial care. This study also aims to examine these women's level of psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and PTSD) and social support, 1-2 years after the loss. Contributions to nursing science will be made by purposefully including Latina and rural dwelling women in the study sample, vulnerable and marginalized populations who are often underrepresented in research studies on women who experience miscarriage. Findings from this study will provide insight into the potential long-term psychological impacts of experiencing a miscarriage during the most isolating periods of the COVID pandemic and inform on women's perceptions of the care they received. Further, findings will be used to provide a foundation for the development of an intervention to address and reduce the psychological distress for women experiencing a miscarriage during increasingly stressful and secluded periods (whether due to lack of social support, living in rural communities, or a future need for social distancing or quarantining).
  • The purpose of this mixed methods study is to explore the experiences of women in Eastern North Carolina after suffering a miscarriage during the COVID pandemic and their preferences in receiving psychosocial care. This study also aims to examine these women's level of psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and PTSD) and social support, 1-2 years after the loss. Contributions to nursing science will be made by purposefully including Latina and rural dwelling women in the study sample, vulnerable and marginalized populations who are often underrepresented in research studies on women who experience miscarriage. Findings from this study will provide insight into the potential long-term psychological impacts of experiencing a miscarriage during the most isolating periods of the COVID pandemic and inform on women's perceptions of the care they received. Further, findings will be used to provide a foundation for the development of an intervention to address and reduce the psychological distress for women experiencing a miscarriage during increasingly stressful and secluded periods (whether due to lack of social support, living in rural communities, or a future need for social distancing or quarantining).
  • This study will provide significance by informing on the miscarriage personal experiences (physical and psychological), coping, social support, and perceptions of care provided by healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic among women in East North Carolina. This study will also provide information on these women's level of psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and PTSD) 1-2 years after the loss and preferences for receiving psychosocial interventions post-miscarriage.

date/time interval

  • June 2022 - November 2024