Determinants of elevated depressive symptoms in Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Shuyuan Huang, Dora Lendvai Wischik, Robin Whittemore, Sangchoon Jeon, Long Qing, Jia Guo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a higher risk of developing elevated depressive symptoms than women without GDM. The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic (eg, location), clinical (eg, health care–seeking behaviors), and psychological (eg, active coping skills) factors associated with elevated depressive symptoms in Chinese women with GDM. Methods: This was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study among Chinese women with GDM. Data (n = 323) were collected in 2018 from two hospitals in Hunan Province in China. The Center for Epidemiological Survey Depression Scale was used, with a criterion score ≥20 indicative of clinically elevated depressive symptoms. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression analyses were completed. Findings: The women had a mean age of 32.71 (SD = 5.17), and the majority were married (84.2%), college-educated (65.6%), and with Han ethnicity (89.8%). About 68% of women had elevated depressive symptoms. Women with higher active coping scores were less likely (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10-0.38) to have elevated depressive symptoms. Women from one geographical location (Changde) who had more emergency room visits had higher odds (OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.88-5.10) of elevated depressive symptoms. Discussion: There was a high co-occurrence of GDM and elevated depressive symptoms among pregnant women in our sample. Assessment for depressive symptoms in women with GDM is warranted. More research about increasing active coping skills may improve health outcomes in women with GDM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)289-297
Number of pages9
JournalBirth
Volume49
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • antenatal depression
  • Chinese women
  • coping
  • depressive symptoms
  • gestational diabetes mellitus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Determinants of elevated depressive symptoms in Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this