WED-034 - A Qualitative Evaluation of African American Men’s Coping Strategies from Infant Loss

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover the various ways in which African American men grieve following infant loss. Fifty African American men from Midwestern, US, who experienced infant loss, were recruited for the study via flyers posted on social media and in community-based organizations and stores. Each participant underwent a semi-structured interview, and the qualitative data was analyzed using a two-stage inductive thematic analytic approach. Results reveal that numerous African American men incorporate faith and familial and community ties, into their grieving process. Observations also identify another group, that utilizes maladaptive behaviors to avoid thoughts and feelings related to loss. Participants receiving spiritual and social support demonstrate healthier coping habits and less involvement in high-risk behaviors and isolation. Our study demonstrates the adverse impact of racial and social stigmas has on the grieving process of African American men.

Detailed abstract description: Discover how African American fathers experience grief after infant loss. The impact of infant loss on fathers is often overlooked and understudied. African American men being the focal point of grieving the loss of a child is even less likely to be explored. This is most likely to due to the hypermasculinity and racial stigmas that are placed on Black men, in addition to the social stigmas that already placed on all men.

Our study examines the underexplored, through the evaluation and analyzation of semi-structured interviews completed by 50 Black men from Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Compared to numerous counties throughout the US, Black infants from this county are disproportionately affected by health disparities.

Findings from our study reveal that African American men with healthy coping strategies rely significantly on spirituality, and familial and community ties. Many men in the faith-based group often rely on their religious community by leaning on spiritual leaders and peers. Both groups symbolize that discussion of loss brings a closeness and togetherness, that creates a shared grief experience among fathers and their social and religious networks.

Our presentation will also explore maladaptive and avoidant behaviors in men experiencing infant loss. Avoidant behaviors such as isolation, infidelity and engaging in high-risk activities emphasize the impact of social constructs such as masculinity has on the grief of African American men.

Attending our presentation provides a voice to Black men experiencing infant loss in a disproportionately affected county. Therefore, attendance will provide insight in the grieving process of Black men with infant loss. Hopefully the knowledge gain from our presentation sparks an interest in finding resolutions to social and systemic barriers among Black men in receiving emotional and mental health support while grieving.