Predictors of enhanced mental wellbeing in women 13 months post-miscarriage

Abstract

Background: Although women’s experience of miscarriage is individual, up to 50% suffer some form of psychological morbidity, which can be enduring. Given this impact and the possible deleterious effects socially, psychologically and on future pregnancies, it is important to understand how wellbeing can be enhanced over time. The objective of the research was to determine predictors of higher mental wellbeing amongst women 13-months post-miscarriage, to include health locus of control, coping style, and resilience. Method: Forty-nine women participated in a 13-month prospective study, with assessment by standardised questionnaires including: Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (Tennant et al. 2007); Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (Wallston et al. 1978); Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor and Davidson 2003) and Coping Style Questionnaire (Endler and Parker 1990) at baseline, 6 and 13-months post-miscarriage. Pearson correlation and multiple-regression were used to determine the best predictors of wellbeing at 13 months. Results: Multiple regression was carried out with resilience, avoidant, emotion and task focused coping, and explained 51.4% (adjusted R Sq= 46.9%) of the variance in wellbeing, F(4, 44) =11.61, p<0.01. Of the four variables, resilience (beta=0.52, p<0 .01) made the largest unique contribution, although avoidant focused coping (beta=-0.24, p< 0.05) was also significant. Conclusion: These findings indicate that higher resilience and less use of avoidant coping styles predict higher mental well-being post-miscarriage and may be usefully applied both as a screening tool to identify women at risk of prolonged psychological distress and as an avenue for intervention work.