From Isolation to Connection: Empathy, Prosocial Behavior, and Posttraumatic Growth After Pregnancy Loss

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between prosocial behaviors, empathy, and positive psychological change in women who have experienced pregnancy loss. Women who had experienced miscarriage or stillbirth (n = 291) were recruited via social media and completed an online survey that assessed their engagement in in-person or online prosocial behavior, empathy, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Loss context factors and demographics were also collected. The results indicated that women who engage in in-person prosocial behavior, such as volunteering, report higher levels of PTG compared to those who do not volunteer at all or only volunteer online. A weak positive relationship was found between PTG and empathy. Findings suggest that encouraging clients to engage in in-person volunteering may foster their experience of growth. Future research is needed to further explore the timing of the volunteering in relation to PTG as well as empathy and PTG.