City Research Online

Abstract

Pregnancy loss remains a stigmatised experience, with many women encountering barriers to sharing their loss, which may impede positive psychological adjustment (Freedle & Oliviera, 2021). While distress disclosure has been shown to predict Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), the mechanisms behind this relationship, particularly the roles of deliberate and intrusive rumination, are not fully understood (Alcarez-Calle & Chaves, 2023). This study aimed to examine the connections between self-disclosure, deliberate rumination, intrusive rumination, and PTG in women after pregnancy loss, explicitly investigating whether both types of rumination mediate the link between self-disclosure and PTG. A cross-sectional, online study was conducted with women who experienced single or multiple miscarriages at least 12 months ago. A total of 67 participants completed the Event-Related Rumination Inventory, Distress-Disclosure Index, and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Data were analysed using hierarchical regression and mediation analyses. Hierarchical regression showed that self-disclosure and deliberate rumination positively predicted PTG, whereas intrusive rumination was not a significant predictor. Furthermore, the engagement in self-disclosure was linked to increased deliberate rumination and reduced intrusive rumination. Finally, the relation between self-disclosure and PTG was mediated by deliberate rumination but not by intrusive rumination. The findings suggest that disclosing emotional distress following pregnancy loss may lead to PTG through cognitive processing in which individuals articulate and elaborate on their thoughts and feelings. This study did not find evidence for the potential negative impact of intrusive rumination as it did not predict PTG or mediate the relation between self-disclosure and PTG. This highlights the dynamic nature of cognitive processing following trauma and contributes to the literature by providing support for applying PTG theory to women who have experienced pregnancy loss.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology School of Health & Psychological Sciences > School of Health & Psychological Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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