McCreight Bernadette Susan
School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, UK.
Sociol Health Illn. 2004 Apr;26(3):326-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2004.00393.x.
This paper, utilising a narrative approach, aims to describe the experiences of men whose partner had experienced pregnancy loss, based on data from Northern Ireland. The methodology was based upon observation within pregnancy loss self-help groups and in-depth interviews with 14 men who attended the groups. The study also included interviews with 32 midwives and nurses, with the intention of examining attitudes within the medical context towards bereaved fathers. The impact of pregnancy loss on male partners has been largely overlooked in academic research. When a baby dies before birth the loss can be devastating for fathers yet, very often, the world that surrounds them tends to discount their loss, and emotional support and cultural rituals that are normally available to other bereaved individuals are often absent for this group of men. Previous research has shown that men are expected to be emotionally strong in order to support their partner. The present study will show that the perception that men have only a supportive role in pregnancy loss is unjustified, as it ignores the actual life-world experiences of the men, and the meanings they attach to their loss, in what may be a very personal emotional tragedy for them where they have limited support available. The study uncovered several recurring themes including self-blame; loss of identity; and the need to appear strong and hide feelings of grief and anger. There is consideration of the need for hospital staff and the wider community to acknowledge the male partner's grief as being a valid response to the bereavement suffered.
本文采用叙述方法，旨在根据北爱尔兰的数据，描述伴侣经历过流产的男性的经历。该方法基于对流产自助小组的观察以及对14名参加这些小组的男性进行的深入访谈。该研究还包括对32名助产士和护士的访谈，目的是考察医疗环境中对丧亲父亲的态度。在学术研究中，流产对男性伴侣的影响在很大程度上被忽视了。当婴儿在出生前夭折时，这种损失对父亲来说可能是毁灭性的，然而，他们周围的世界往往忽视他们的损失，而且通常给予其他丧亲者的情感支持和文化仪式，这群男性往往没有。先前的研究表明，人们期望男性在情感上坚强，以便支持他们的伴侣。本研究将表明，认为男性在流产中只起支持作用的看法是不合理的，因为它忽视了男性的实际生活经历，以及他们赋予自己损失的意义，而这对他们来说可能是一场非常个人化的情感悲剧，在这场悲剧中他们得到的支持有限。该研究发现了几个反复出现的主题，包括自责、身份丧失，以及需要表现得坚强并隐藏悲伤和愤怒的情绪。研究认为，医院工作人员和更广泛的社区需要承认男性伴侣的悲伤是对所遭受丧亲之痛的一种有效反应。
