Invisible Scars: Psychopathology, Shame and Self-Judgment Following Perinatal Loss—A Cross-Sectional Study

Perinatal loss affects 23 million pregnancies worldwide each year, representing a painful experience that disrupts expectations and impacts emotional, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. This cross-sectional observational study assessed symptoms of anxiety, depression, self-judgment (self-criticism, isolation, over-identification), and shame in women who experienced perinatal loss, as well as their predictive value for psychopathology. Participants were 501 women, divided into five groups according to time since loss: 0–6 months, 7–18 months, 19–30 months, 31–42 months, and more than 43 months. Findings showed that women 7–18 months post-loss reported the highest psychopathology levels, with significant differences in anxiety. Isolation and shame were the strongest predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Although symptoms decreased over time, they remained elevated years after the loss. These results underscore the lasting psychological impact of perinatal loss and the importance of sustained recognition, assessment, and intervention to support women’s mental health.