The purpose of this study was to compare the grief responses and physical health changes of Caucasian and African-American women following a third trimester stillbirth. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires: (a) the Demographic Data Form; (b) the Bereavement Experience Questionnaire; and (c) the Health Change Questionnaire. Subjects were 32 Caucasian and 16 African-American women who had delivered a stillborn infant between 32 and 44 weeks gestation. The two groups were compared according to obstetrical history, general health change, number of physician visits, presentation of physical health problems and somatic symptoms, drug usage, sleep problems, appetite and weight changes, exercise patterns, and grief responses following their stillbirth experience. The findings indicated that more of the Caucasian subjects were married and living with their husbands, employed and reported more years of education as compared to the African-American subjects. There were no statistically significant differences between the Caucasian and African-American subjects in their responses to grief.

The two groups did not differ significantly according to reported overall health changes, physical health problems and somatic symptoms. However, the African-American women reported significantly more sleep problems, greater severity of health problems and an increase in the usage of recreational drugs. The African-American women also reported a greater percentage of changes in appetite and weight however there were no reported differences in exercise patterns between the two groups.