School of Nursing, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Int J Nurs Stud. 2024 Dec;160:104863. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104863. Epub 2024 Aug 6.
Stillbirth is a unique phenomenon with various manifestations influenced by cultural contexts and spiritual beliefs. Chinese cultural and spiritual practices produce different post-stillbirth grief experiences for bereaved mothers in China. However, the majority of research on perinatal loss and grief has been conducted in Western cultures. In the Chinese cultural context, the post-stillbirth grief experience of bereaved mothers may differ from the types of Western bereavement examined in the dominant research.
This study investigated the influence of culture and spirituality on grieving mothers who had experienced a stillbirth in China.
This qualitative study was grounded in an interpretivist constructionist epistemology. In-depth interviews were conducted with mothers who had experienced a stillbirth within the previous year. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
A total of 28 women were interviewed by trained interviewers. Three key themes were identified: 1) The influence of culture on grief expression, with four subthemes: restrained expressions of grief, unattainable mourning ceremonies, hospital policy as a barrier to grieving, and others-oriented self; 2) Cultural characteristics of post-stillbirth experiences, with four subthemes: paternalistic medical culture, "Kong yuezi", embarrassment during postpartum visits, and cultural taboos on dealing with deceased babies' possessions; and 3) Finding significance in spiritual healing process, with four subthemes: seeking meaning in the event, accepting and reconciling with the event, reshaping beliefs and views about life and death, and achieving personal growth.
Chinese culture and spirituality have different influences on bereaved mothers' expressions of grief and post-stillbirth healing. This research demonstrates specific aspects of spirituality that contribute to or hinder the grieving process and the different roles of Chinese culture and spirituality for individuals. The findings suggest the need for the development of culturally sensitive interventions and support systems to assist mothers in navigating grief and healing. Future studies could explore the roles of Chinese culture and spirituality over time in the different stages of grief and healing after stillbirth.
死产是一种独特的现象，其表现受到文化背景和精神信仰的影响。中国的文化和精神实践为中国的悲痛母亲带来了不同的产后悲痛体验。然而，大多数关于围产期损失和悲痛的研究都是在西方文化中进行的。在中国文化背景下，悲痛母亲的产后悲痛体验可能与主导研究中检查的西方丧亲类型不同。
本研究探讨了文化和精神对在中国经历死产的悲痛母亲的影响。
本定性研究基于解释主义建构主义认识论。对过去一年内经历过死产的母亲进行了深入访谈。采用主题分析对数据进行分析。
共有 28 名妇女接受了培训访谈员的采访。确定了三个关键主题：1）文化对悲伤表达的影响，有四个子主题：悲伤表达受限、无法举行哀悼仪式、医院政策成为悲伤的障碍、以及以他人为中心的自我；2）死产后经历的文化特征，有四个子主题：家长式医疗文化、“空月子”、产后探访时的尴尬、以及处理已故婴儿物品的文化禁忌；3）在精神疗愈过程中寻找意义，有四个子主题：在事件中寻找意义、接受并和解、重塑对生命和死亡的信仰和观点、以及实现个人成长。
中国文化和精神对悲痛母亲的悲伤表达和死产后疗愈有不同的影响。这项研究展示了精神信仰对悲伤过程产生促进或阻碍作用的具体方面，以及中国文化和精神对个体的不同作用。研究结果表明，需要制定文化敏感的干预措施和支持系统，以帮助母亲应对悲伤和疗愈。未来的研究可以探讨中国文化和精神在不同阶段的悲伤和死产后疗愈过程中的作用和变化。
