Quality of Life, Social Support, Acceptance of Illness, and Self-Efficacy among Pregnant Women with Hyperglycemia

Grażyna Iwanowicz-Palus, Marta Zarajczyk, Beata Pięta and Agnieszka Bień
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Grażyna Iwanowicz-Palus: Chair and Department of Development in Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 4-6 Staszica St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Marta Zarajczyk: Chair and Department of Development in Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 4-6 Staszica St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Beata Pięta: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Department of Midwifery, Poznan University of Medical Science, 41 Jackowskiego St., 60-533 Poznan, Poland
Agnieszka Bień: Chair and Department of Development in Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 4-6 Staszica St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-16

Abstract: Carbohydrate metabolism disorders resulting in hyperglycemia are among the most common metabolic complications of pregnancy. According to 2017 data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 16.2% of pregnancies are complicated with hyperglycemia, of which gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) accounts for 86.4% of cases. Carbohydrate metabolism disorders developing during pregnancy require the patient to change her lifestyle or, in some cases, to undergo pharmaceutical treatment, which may affect various aspects of the patient’s life, including her perceived quality of life (QoL). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate levels of QoL, social support, acceptance of illness, and self-efficacy among pregnant patients with hyperglycemia. The study was performed between July 2016 and September 2017 in a group of hyperglycemic pregnant women. The following instruments were used: the World Health Organization Quality of Life—BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and a standardized interview questionnaire. Participants rated their overall QoL (3.64 points) higher than their overall perceived health (3.43). In terms of social support, the highest scores were obtained in terms of actually received support (3.53) and perceived available instrumental support (3.52), while the lowest in terms of support seeking (2.99) and the need for support (2.95). The mean acceptance of illness score among the hyperglycemic pregnant women that were studied was 31.37, and the mean generalized self-efficacy score was 31.58. Participants’ reported QoL in the various WHOQOL-BREF domains was associated with specific social support scales, acceptance of illness, and generalized self-efficacy.

Keywords: pregnancy; diabetes mellitus; hyperglycemia; quality of life; social support; acceptance of illness; generalized self-efficacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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