Perinatal loss is common, but little is known about its impact on partners during the grieving process. This study examined psychological outcomes and coping strategies among recently bereaved partners (≤6 months post-loss; N = 73) at baseline (T1) and six-month follow-up (T2) via online survey. Participants were predominantly male (78%) and typically aged 25–44 (90%), and had experienced a range of perinatal losses (<20 weeks’ gestation to 28 days of life). Grief and depression symptoms were assessed using the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) and PHQ-9 respectively, and multivariate regression analyses examined the role of coping styles, demographic characteristics, and loss-related factors. Participants reported varying levels of grief and depression symptoms, with 38% displaying moderate-to-severe depression symptoms at follow-up. Across the cohort, participants reported using a range of coping strategies; however, avoidant coping was uniquely associated with higher grief and depression scores at baseline (PHQ-9: β = .30, p = .007; PGS: β = .49, p <.001). Avoidant coping also predicted poorer grief and depression outcomes at follow-up, although these relationships were no longer significant after controlling for baseline symptoms. Additionally, stillbirth, female gender, and younger age were associated with greater psychological distress at baseline across outcomes (β = .21–.32, p ≤.05). Associations between gender, stillbirth, and psychological outcomes remained at follow-up, although these did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance (β = .24–.40, p ≤.073). These findings highlight the psychological impact of perinatal loss on partners and underscore the importance of improving access to support for this group. Avoidant coping may represent a key target for intervention. Future research should further investigate factors influencing grief trajectories and identify effective forms of support for bereaved partners.
Radically different