Effects of a program of intervention on parental distress following infantdeath

A longitudinal study of 144 patents (65 fathers, 79 mothers) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a program of intervention in relieving the psychological distress of parents affected by infant death. Participants w ere assessed in terms of their psychiatric disturbance, depression, anxiety , physical symptoms, dyadic adjustment, and coping strategies. The experime ntal group (n = 84) was offered an intervention program comprising the use of specially designed resources and contact with a trained grief worker. A control group (n = 60) was given routine community care. Parental reactions were assessed at four to six weeks postloss (prior to the implementation o f the intervention program), at six months postloss, and at 15 months postl oss. A series of multivariate analyses of valiance revealed that the interv ention was effective in reducing the distress of parents, particularly thos e assessed prior to the intervention as being at high-risk of developing mo urning difficulties. Effects of the intervention were noted in terms of par ents' overall psychiatric disturbance, marital quality, and paternal coping strategies.