A Study Conducted by the Department of Social Work and Social Administration Reveals the Impacts of Miscarriage on Couples
An online study titled “Couple’s Interdependence in Grief and Coping After Pregnancy Loss in Hong Kong” was conducted from September to October 2024 by the Jockey Club Perinatal Bereavement Care Project under the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, with the aim to gain a better understanding of a couple’s interdependence in grief and coping mechanisms after a miscarriage.
The team, led by Professors Paul W.C. Wong and Celia H.Y. Chan, analysed data from 246 couples, sampled through community networks and social media platforms. The median age of the respondents was 37, and the majority were married. The study found that 86% of couples experienced complicated grief within a year of pregnancy loss. It also discovered that a significant proportion, 54% of couples, required referral to psychological support due to experiencing complicated grief, with over 47% of couples experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms within a year.
Professor Wong suggested that clinicians should include grief and reproductive history as part of routine assessments, encouraging couples to share their loss openly. He also emphasised the importance of public support for couples in sharing their loss.