Exploring psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes


Nar M., Ozcirpan Ç.

Contemporary Nurse, vol.59, no.2, pp.88-98, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 59 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/10376178.2023.2175699
  • Journal Name: Contemporary Nurse
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.88-98
  • Keywords: pregnancy, gestational diabetes, psychosocial adaptation, nursing
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy. Diagnosis of GDM, that could be unexpected, may cause women to feel negative emotions such as fear, guilt, sadness, and loss of control and experience difficulties adapting to pregnancy. Objective: This study aimed to explore psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy in women with GDM. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted with women with GDM and healthy pregnant women who applied to the pregnancy and perinatology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Groups were matched according to age, education level, and gestational week. The Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) was used to collect data. Simple linear regression was performed to determine factors influenced psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy using average scores from the PSEQ. Results: Regression analysis indicated, GDM status (beta = −48.8, p ≤ 0.001) and smoking status during pregnancy (beta = 11.0, p = 0.032) influenced the total score of the PSEQ. Conclusions: Nurses are encouraged to develop a multifaceted nursing care model that considers the physical and psychosocial problems and to provide care to increase the psychosocial adaptation of women with GDM to pregnancy.