Abstract:
Stress among women with gestational diabetes could increase the severity of diabetes
mellitus, then affect to health of pregnant women and their fetus. This predictive research aimed
to examine factors influencing stress among women with gestational diabetes mellitus, which
included severity of gestational diabetes mellitus, perceived risk of gestational diabetes mellitus,
self-efficacy and social support. The sample of 176 pregnant women with gestational diabetes
visiting Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, were selected by simple random sampling.
Research instruments consisted of personal record form, perceived risk of gestational diabetes
mellitus questionnaire, selfefficacy questionnaire, social support questionnaire and perceived
stress scale. Descriptive statistics and Backward multiple regression were conducted to analyze
data.
The results revealed that the mean scores of stress were at a moderate level
(Mean = 17.70, SD = 3.79). Self-efficacy and social support combined could predict 19.1 % of the
variance of stress among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (R
2
= .191, β = -.35 and
β = -.15, p< .001, respectively). The self-efficacy was the best and significant predictor
influencing stress. Therefore, reducing stress among pregnant women with gestational diabetes,
nurses and health care providers should promote perceived self-efficacy and invite their family to
support pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus in health care practices.