| Abstract [eng] |
Justification of the study: Rates of gestational diabetes are escalating globally. From 2013 to 2023, the prevalence of this disorder in Lithuania increased from 2.5 % to 19.3 %. This is significant because gestational diabetes is a risk factor for impaired mental health. Compared to healthy expectant mothers, those with gestational diabetes tend to exhibit more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or emotional distress. There is still a lack of high-quality evidence on the relationship between gestational diabetes and mental health. Gestational diabetes is a condition that can negatively impact a woman's mental health during a sensitive life period, thus, it is crucial to continue research evaluating the mental health of women with gestational diabetes and the associated risk factors. Objective: The aim is to assess the mental health status of women with gestational diabetes and further identify associated factors. Tasks: To determine the severity of anxiety, depression, diabetes-related emotional distress, and to assess the relationship between these disorders in women with gestational diabetes. Additionally, to identify the relationships between anxiety, depression, diabetes-related distress during gestational diabetes and woman’s age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, the timing of gestational diabetes diagnosis (before or after 24+0 weeks), the treatment (with or without insulin), and the gestational period (early: I–II trimester and late: III trimester). Methods: Data was obtained via a survey using a closed Facebook group and the "Tėvų Darželis" forum. The survey included Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Problem Areas in Diabetes Questionnaire-20, and 10 demographic questions. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel and R 4.4.3 (with R Commander). Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Anxiety symptoms in this sample were of moderate intensity, while depression symptoms, although mild, significantly affected almost two-thirds of the participants. Diabetes-related distress severely impaired the mental health of women with gestational diabetes. 50.5 % of participants experienced distress reaching the level of emotional burnout. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between anxiety, depression symptoms, and emotional distress (p < 0.05). Additionally, older pregnant women had 2.45 times higher chances of experiencing depression compared to younger ones. No significant relationship was found between other analysed factors and mental health. Conclusions: Mental health deterioration was observed among women with gestational diabetes in this study. The mental health disorders occurring together were significantly linked. The only factor associated with more severe depression symptoms in this sample was the older age of women with gestational diabetes. |
