# Perceived Social Support, Shame, and Psychopathological Symptoms After Perinatal Loss in Portuguese Women

## TL;DR

This study explores how social support and shame affect mental health in Portuguese women who experienced perinatal loss.

## Contribution

The study identifies the mediating role of social support from friends in the relationship between shame and psychological distress.

## Key findings

- High levels of anxiety and depression were found in women who experienced perinatal loss.
- Shame was positively linked to symptoms and negatively linked to social support.
- Social support from friends significantly mediated the relationship between shame and psychological distress.

## Abstract

(1) Background: Perinatal loss is a deeply painful and often invisible experience, with a significant impact on mental health. This study aimed to assess levels of psychopathological symptoms, shame, and perceived social support according to the type of perinatal loss; explore the relationships between these variables; and analyze the mediating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between shame and symptoms, as well as the moderating effect of the type of loss. (2) Methods: A total of 501 Portuguese women who had experienced perinatal loss participated in the study, recruited through an online questionnaire. Psychopathological symptoms, shame, perceived social support, and type of loss were assessed. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, normality and homogeneity of variances tests, and mediation and moderation models with PROCESS. (3) Results: The results revealed high levels of anxiety and depression, and moderate levels of shame. Perceived social support, especially from partners and family members, was high. Shame correlated positively with symptoms and negatively with social support. Only social support from friends significantly mediated the relationship between shame and psychological distress. (4) Conclusions: These results reinforce the protective role of support networks and the importance of clinical interventions focused on reducing shame.