Learning Objective #1: describe a concept analysis technique which includes literature review, literature extraction, and affinity grouping to identify primary attributes and variant dimensions

Learning Objective #2: describe the primary attributes and variant dimensions of perinatal grief

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Perinatal grief is the complex of painful experiences associated with the loss of a pregnancy or death of a newborn. Beginning in the early 1970's, a growing body of literature on the grief of parents experiencing perinatal loss has been published, but no formal analysis of the concept of perinatal grief has been published in the nursing literature. In order to define perinatal grief in terms of its critical attributes and begin an exploration of the dimensions of perinatal grief, a literature analysis was performed using an affinity grouping technique. The primary attributes identified were; 1) Perinatal Loss, 2) Multiple Complex Losses, 3) Personal, Individual Process, 4) Intrapersonal Responses, 5) Interpersonal Responses, 6) Threats to Self, and 7) Uncertain Resolution. These attributes were incorporated into a definitional sentence: Perinatal grief is a personal, individual process which includes intrapersonal and interpersonal responses to the multiple complex losses and threats to self resulting from perinatal loss, and which progresses toward uncertain resolution. Context and perspective dimensions of the concept were explored, using data extracted from the literature. Conclusions and implications for future scholarship are considered.