Predictors of anxiety among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their partners: The mediating role of marital satisfaction

Aims This study aims to examine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and identify predictors of anxiety among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their partners and explore the mediating role of marital satisfaction between maternal and paternal anxiety.Design A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from July 2021 to May 2022.Methods A total of 306 dyads of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their partners completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test and the socio-demographic and clinical data sheet.Results The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 32.4% and 36.6% in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their partners, respectively. The predictors of maternal anxiety were paternal anxiety, maternal marital satisfaction, maternal monthly salary, fasting glucose value and 1-h glucose value. By contrast, the predictors of paternal anxiety were maternal anxiety, paternal marital satisfaction and paternal monthly salary. Moreover, the relationship between maternal and paternal anxiety was mediated by marital satisfaction.Conclusions The anxiety symptoms of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their partners influence each other, and this relationship was mediated by marital satisfaction. Every couple should be screened for anxiety symptoms and treated as a team rather than focusing solely on the pregnant woman.