The impact of prenatal depression and diabetes management self-efficacy on postpartum stress and depression in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Aims: The study aimed to examine the impact of prenatal depression and diabe-tes management self-efficacy on postpartum stress and postpartum depression in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Background: Poor perinatal mental health is linked to various adverse pregnancy out-comes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Designs: A predictive study design and the guidelines for the STROBE checklist were used for the study. Methods: A total of 119 pregnant women with a positive 75 g-glucose challenge test were recruited at a medical centre. The Taiwanese depression questionnaire (TDQ), the diabetes management self-efficacy scale (DMSES) and the Hung postpartum stress scale (Hung PSS) were used for data collection at the 24th week of pregnancy and the first week after childbirth. Results: Diabetes management self-efficacy was correlated with postpartum stress in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Moreover, prenatal depression was a predictor of postpartum stress and postpartum depression, respectively, in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Healthcare providers should assess those women's diabetes manage-ment self-efficacy and mood status during prenatal visits and offer the needed inter-vention to reduce the levels of postpartum stress and postpartum depression of those women after childbirth. Relevance to clinical practice: A holistic care approach integrated diabetic care and mental health for women with gestational diabetes mellitus in a timely manner is warranted to promote perinatal mental health in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.