Miscarriage: Is vividness of visual imagery a factor in the grief reaction of the partner?

Abstract

Objectives. In the context of recent findings concerning the unexpressed psychological reactions of men to their partner's miscarriage, this study explores the role of visual imagery in mediating this reaction.Design. Questionnaire data from 158 male partners of women who had miscarried prior to the start of the 25th week of pregnancy were collected with a view to exploring the relation of vividness of visual imagery within this cohort to their subsequent grief response.Methods. Volunteers recruited via referrals from general hospitals and general practices in the North East and Midlands regions of England, were administered the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, a modified object‐specific form, i.e. the Baby Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire, and the Perinatal Grief Scale.Results. It was found that men with ‘unvivid’ visual imagery were less likely to have seen an ultrasound scan of their unborn child. When men were compared by the length of gestation at which the miscarriage occurred there was not a significant difference in vividness of visual imagery. Those men exhibiting vivid imagery exhibited significantly higher levels of measured grief when their partner miscarried than those of lower or unvivid imagery.Conclusions. These findings suggest that vivid visual imagery assisted or oriented men towards a sense of baby (or perceived foetal ontology) early in pregnancy, and in consequence they appeared at greater risk of negative impact following their partner's miscarriage.