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Gender Differences in Parental Psychological Distress Following Perinatal Death or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John C. Vance ,
Frances M. Boyle ,
Jackob M. Najman  and
M. John Thearle
John C. Vance*
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, The University of Queensland, Mater Children's Hospital
Frances M. Boyle
Affiliation:
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, The University of Queensland, Medical School, Herston. Q. 4006
Jackob M. Najman
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Sociology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia. Q. 4072
M. John Thearle
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Queensland, Mater Children's Hospital, Australia
*
Dr Vance, Department of Child Health, The University of Queensland, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
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Abstract

Background

Stress responses of bereaved parents (mothers 194, fathers 143) who experienced infant loss were compared with parents (mothers 203, fathers 157) with a live born child.

Method

Psychological distress using scales of anxiety, depression and alcohol use was compared at 2, 8, 15 and 30 months post-loss.

Results

Bereaved mothers showed significantly more anxiety/depression than controls at all four interviews. For bereaved fathers, anxiety/depression differed significantly from controls only at two months. Heavy alcohol use was significantly more prevalent at 2 and 30 months. Relative risks showed significant gender differences between bereaved parents at all four interviews for anxiety/depression. When this outcome was extended to include heavy drinking in addition to anxiety/depression, these differences diminished and were significant only at 2 and 8 months.

Conclusion

Female responses are longer lasting and reflected by elevated levels of anxiety/depression. Male responses equally involve anxiety, depression and heavy alcohol consumption.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 6 , December 1995 , pp. 806 - 811
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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