Abstract
Introduction: The
stress of pregnancy itself, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) that develops
during pregnancy is also a stressor, because it can cause serious maternal and
fetal health problems. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships
between the characteristics of pregnant women with GDM and their styles of
coping with stress.
Methods: This descriptive
cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 pregnant women with GDM.
The sample consisted of patients who applied to the diabetes mellitus
training polyclinic of a training and research
and university hospital in southeastern Turkey, Data were evaluated using
descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality tests, Spearman's rho and
Pearson Correlation analysis, the Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test and
Kruskal–Wallis- test by SPSS software (version 13.0).
Results: It was determined that a planned pregnancy, a high educational level, a
first pregnancy and weight gain were important factors in the women
with GDM in the study who coped effectively with stress during pregnancy.
Unemployment and a second or subsequent pregnancy were important factors in the
women with GDM< who coped
ineffectively with stress during pregnancy. In addition, it was determined that
the hemoglobin HbA1c levels
of the pregnant women with
GDM with “optimistic” and “submissive”
approaches towards coping with stress were lower.
Conclusion: It was determined that pregnant women with optimistic
and submissive approaches towards coping with
stress had lower HbA1c levels.
It is suggested that randomized controlled studies
be conducted to further determine the coping styles of patients with GDM.