Relationship between illness perception and self-management behaviors among women with gestational diabetes mellitus in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mediating role of depression

Abstract

Objective

Describe the current status of illness perception, depression, and self-management behaviors among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore the role of depression in the relationship between illness perception and self-management behaviors among women with GDM.

Methods

Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were recruited at the obstetrics clinic of a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Wuhan, through convenience sampling. Self-reported questionnaires including basic information, illness perception, depression, and self-management behaviors were used to collect data from April 2021 to February 2022. Mediation analysis was performed by SPSS Process macro.

Results

Among GDM pregnant women, the mean self-management behaviors score was 73.89 (SD = 12.21), the mean illness perception score was 31.80 (SD = 8.77), and 44.3% had depression scores of 10 or higher. The indirect effect of illness perception on self-management behaviors mediated by depression was significant (path a * b, β = −0.045), accounting for 26.6% of the total effect.

Conclusion

GDM pregnant women have a certain negative illness perception of GDM, and the detection rate of depression symptoms is relatively high. The level of self-management behaviors among GDM pregnant women is notably suboptimal and warrants improvement. Depression partially mediates the relationship between illness perception and self-management behaviors. Improving positive illness perception and decreasing depression are important strategies to improve self-management behaviors in women with GDM.