LAUSR

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. IMPACT STATEMENT To effectively manage GDM, nurses should provide training and counseling to pregnant women with GDM that supports physical and psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy and GDM rather than focusing only on diet and insulin therapy.