Somatic distress in women after perinatal loss: results of a cross-sectional study | Ukrainian Medical Journal

Objective: to investigate the severity of somatic distress and the physical health status of women after perinatal loss, as well as the relationship between somatic symptoms and measures of psychological distress. Methods. A cross-sectional online study was conducted with the participation of 67 women with experience of perinatal loss (August 2023 — October 2025). Somatic distress was assessed using the Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS)-8. Data on medical care visits with complaints and new diagnoses after loss were collected. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to assess relationships. Results. The mean SSS-8 score was 15.49±7.20 (median 16.0), corresponding to a moderate-to-high level of somatic distress. After perinatal loss, 32.4% (n=22) of women sought medical care with complaints; 39.7% (n=27) were diagnosed with a new condition or an exacerbation of a chronic disease. Moderate to strong positive correlations were found between SSS-8 and measures of grief, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety-depressive distress (ρ=0.48–0.60, all p<0.001); coping efficacy was negatively correlated with somatic distress (ρ=−0.63, p<0.001). Conclusions. Perinatal loss is associated with a significant somatic burden that is closely related to psychological distress. The findings support the need for an integrated medical-psychological approach to the care of women after perinatal loss..

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