Date

6-17-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Mollie Boyd

Keywords

Perinatal loss, Bereaved fathers, Marital Couple Quality, Psychological Distress, Timing of Bereaved care following perinatal loss

Disciplines

Counseling | Education

Abstract

Extensive research on maternal perinatal loss has been conducted for decades. In contrast, there is much less research on bereaved fathers following perinatal loss, specifically, studies that examine bereaved fathers’ psychological distress, time it takes for the health care provider to deliver bereavement care, and the impact it has on grief adjustment. The purpose of this study was to investigate bereaved fathers’ psychological distress, length of time to receive bereavement care, and marital couple quality and their impact on perinatal grief adaptation. The study design was quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive, and correlational. Study participants were 200 bereaved fathers who were administered four instruments: (a) the six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, (b) the Perinatal Grief Scale (c) the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, and (d) a sociodemographic questionnaire developed by the study author. Findings showed a relationship between perinatal grief, psychological distress, marital couple quality, and timing of bereavement care on perinatal grief adaptation, controlling age, income, race, religion. These findings were used to discuss implications regarding bereavement care and management of psychological distress of perinatal loss in grieving fathers. Further research is essential for successful clinical outcomes and public awareness.

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