ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the research context in which the study of bereaved mothers was undertaken. It overviews an knowledge about the psychosocial impact of perinatal and infant death. The method of sampling, and ultimately the composition of the study sample, has important implications for the extent to which findings can be generalized. Broadly speaking, research into bereavement following stillbirth, neonatal death, or Sudden Infant Death can be grouped into five categories: Reports of case studies or clinical impressions; Qualitative interview studies; Studies based on a single assessment; Retrospective surveys; and Prospective longitudinal studies. When considering studies from each of the categories, it is important to bear in mind that most suffer from a number of methodological shortcomings. The chapter provides some very useful data on the dimensions of bereavement and concerning risk factors for short and longer term bereavement outcome but it is unclear what proportion of the sample experienced significant mental health problems following their loss.
