Perinatal bereavement in grandparents and siblings: A systematic review.

Abstract

Perinatal bereavement is receiving increasing attention from researchers and healthcare professionals. However, the existing literature has largely focused on parents, with limited attention given to the experience of grandparents and siblings. This systematic review synthesizes 20 studies examining their experiences following perinatal loss. The analysis identified four recurring themes: the burden of unacknowledged grief; grief as a relational and intersubjective process; collective and symbolic resources in grief adjustment, and the unmet needs of invisible mourners. Findings indicate that intergenerational family dynamics constrain emotional expression and contribute to the invisibilization of non-parental bereavement, leaving grandparents and siblings with unmet needs for support and recognition. These results support a multigenerational conceptualization of perinatal bereavement and underscore the need for more inclusive clinical and institutional recognition extending beyond parents to include grandparents and siblings as bereaved unique and independent individuals.