Religious beliefs and post-traumatic growth following stillbirth in a sample Moroccan women

Abstract

IntroductionWhile research on religious beliefs as an adjustment is on the rise, less is known regarding such process following stillbirth and no study has been conducted on a sample of Moroccan women.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study is to extend the current literature by:– identifying a typology of Moroccan women who experienced stillbirth based on several dimension of religious coping strategies;– examining whether these profile differ on grief, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) symptoms.MethodsOne hundred Moroccan women who experienced stillbirth were recruited through a Moroccan public hospital. At 6 weeks following stillbirth, they completed questionnaires assessing Religious Coping Strategies (RCS), PTSD, PTG, anxious and grief symptoms.ResultsFive clusters were identified: one with high level of plead and religious avoidance coping strategies, one with high level of interpersonal coping strategies, one with multiple religious coping strategies, one with discontent religious coping strategies and one with low religious coping strategies. High levels of psychological symptoms were found in the 5 cluster and PTG symptomatology was as associated with increased RCS.ConclusionOur findings suggest that, while religious beliefs and practices as a coping strategy do not protect from short-term psychopathological symptoms in the immediate aftermath of stillbirth, they play an important role in the development of positive reactions. As PTG symptoms have been reported be a protective factor for long term psychiatric symptomatology further longitudinal studies focusing in this area is warranted.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.