Similarities and Differences in Spouses Coping with SIDS

Bereaved parents' marital relationships may be at high risk for problems after a SIDS death because of coping differences between spouses. Five coping patterns developed in prior studies of SIDS parents were used to study differences within thirty-four pairs of parents bereaved by SIDS, three to forty months after their loss. Individual items most frequently used by both genders were examined to explore similarities in coping behaviors. Findings reveal bereaved parents sought support from within the family most frequently and from outside resources the least. Bereaved mothers used these coping patterns significantly more often than her spouse. Almost all (33) couples had other living children at the time of their SIDS loss or a subsequent child or pregnancy since the death. A current pregnancy was related to coping for bereaved fathers. The presence of other living children was related to less support seeking for bereaved mothers. Couples remembered the child that died and anticipated emotional pain on the anniversary of the death. There were gender differences in frequencies for expressing feelings particularly crying behavior. The majority of the couples accepted the SIDS diagnosis and reported open communication with their spouse.