Fatalism in Turkish women with gestational diabetes: Its relationship with diabetes self-management and perception of risk to maternal and fetal health in pregnancy

Abstract

Fatalism is one of the variables associated with disease management. This descriptive-correlational study aimed to determine the level of fatalism in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its relationship with diabetes self-management and perception of risk to maternal and fetal health in pregnancy. The study included 531 pregnant women. The data were collected using a pregnancy information form, the Fatalism Scale, the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire, and the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Fatalism explained 25% of the total variance on risk perception in pregnancy and 7% of the total variance on diabetes self-management. Fatalism had a fully mediating role in the effect of risk perception in pregnancy on diabetes self-management. It is important for health professionals to evaluate the effects of women’s perceptions of fatalism on their health behaviors in order to maintain a healthy pregnancy process.