From loss to growth: A narrative study of transformational journeys among mothers after miscarriage
Anne Kimberly B. Panganiban & Zyrine Ann A. Bayani
Abstract
This study explores the transformational journeys of mothers after miscarriage, focusing on how they narrate their experiences of loss, coping, and growth. A qualitative narrative research design was employed involving five mothers from Lucena City, Philippines who experienced miscarriage within the past three to ten years, selected through snowball sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, guided by Swanson’s Middle Range Caring Theory and the Pagdadala Model of Sikolohiyang Pilipino. The findings revealed themes of career-driven lifestyles during pregnancy, emotional struggles such as grief and trauma, reliance on family and faith as coping mechanisms, and the redefinition of self and motherhood after loss. Despite pain and stigma, participants described gradual healing through support systems, meaning-making, and renewed perspectives on motherhood. The study is limited to five participants from Lucena City, which may affect the generalizability of the findings; however, the results highlight the need for compassionate, culturally grounded psychosocial support and interventions to assist mothers in their healing and growth.
Keywords
resilience, identity reconstruction, narrative research, psychosocial support
Author information & Contribution
Anne Kimberly B. Panganiban. Corresponding author. 4th Year BS Psychology Student, College of Sciences, Technology and Communications Inc. Email: annepanganiban55@gmail.com
Zyrine Ann A. Bayani. 4th Year BS Psychology Student, College of Sciences, Technology and Communications Inc. Email: zyrineannbayani@gmail.com
“All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was supported by the affiliated institution of the authors, particularly through the support of the Psychology Department for the conference registration and presentation fees.
AI Declaration
The authors declare the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, specifically Gemini, QuillBot, and Grammarly, for language refinement and improving clarity of the manuscript. These tools were used to assist in paraphrasing and enhancing sentence structure only. All ideas, analysis, and interpretations presented in this paper are the original work of the authors. The authors take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and final content of this manuscript.
Notes
This paper has been presented in the 3rd International Student Research Congress (ISRC 2026).
Acknowledgement
The authors extend their sincere gratitude to the five mothers from Lucena City who participated in this study. By bravely sharing their personal experiences of miscarriage, they gave life and meaning to this research. Their stories became the foundation of this study, and without their willingness to share, this work would not have been possible.
The authors also express their heartfelt thanks to Ms. Ma. Creselda A. Aala, RGC, CHRA, for her guidance, patience, and continuous support throughout the research process. They are also grateful to Mr. Argelou P. Paderes, RPsy, RPm, for his guidance, clear explanations, and encouragement that helped the researchers stay motivated. Lastly, sincere appreciation is given to the CSTC Research Ethics Board Committee and the College of Sciences, Technology and Communications Inc. for providing the resources and academic support that made this research possible.
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Cite this article:
Panganiban, A.K.B. & Bayani, Z.A.A. (2026). From loss to growth: A narrative study of transformational journeys among mothers after miscarriage. International Student Research Review, 3(1), 89-111. https://doi.org/10.53378/isrr.217
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) International License.
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