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Objectives <p>There has been an increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the USA. Poorly controlled glucose during pregnancy is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes for maternal and fetal health, and people with GDM experience unique psychosocial challenges that are often unaddressed. The current study investigated how mindfulness-based interventions may effectively address the psychosocial and behavioral needs of people with GDM.</p> Method <p>Using a qualitative, participant-centered co-design approach, we conducted individual interviews with participants (<i>n</i> = 14; aged 24–38&#xa0;years) with current or recent GDM (&lt; 1&#xa0;year postpartum). Participants were introduced to and engaged in three types of mindfulness practices, followed by discussions about the potential usefulness of mindfulness to enhance maternal well-being and facilitate glucose management. Interviewers then presented participants with the content of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and gauged their opinions on feasibility, acceptability, and barriers and facilitators of engagement. We employed thematic analysis for qualitative data analysis.</p> Results <p>Three major themes emerged, including (1) mindfulness can improve key areas of health for people with GDM, including mental health, physical health and mobility, and eating habits; (2) potential mechanisms of action include decreasing stress, reducing internalized GDM stigma, and improving self-regulation; and (3) designing interventions responsive to target population needs is essential for success, including intervening early following diagnosis, practices that are shorter (e.g., 10–15&#xa0;min) and easy to integrate into daily life, incorporating group/community, utilizing internet-based delivery with both synchronous and asynchronous components, attending to individual differences, addressing potential engagement barriers (e.g., cost, scheduling), and extending support to the postpartum period.</p> Conclusions <p>There is a lack of psychosocial and behavioral health support for people with GDM that goes beyond pharmaceutical solutions. This study, the first to explore mindfulness for GDM in a US context with postpartum extension, suggests tailored MBIs could enhance GDM care and promote optimal parental and fetal outcomes by addressing psychosocial barriers and promoting healthy lifestyles, informing future clinical interventions and strategies for GDM management and prevention of type 2 diabetes.</p> Preregistration <p>This study is not preregistered.</p>

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Addressing Mental Health, Glucose Management, and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Among People With Gestational Diabetes via Mindfulness: Community Perspectives and Implications for Intervention Design

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月24日

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  • Shufang Sun,
  • Claire Pisani,
  • Jennifer Pellowski,
  • Mallory Go,
  • Eric Loucks

摘要

Objectives

There has been an increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the USA. Poorly controlled glucose during pregnancy is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes for maternal and fetal health, and people with GDM experience unique psychosocial challenges that are often unaddressed. The current study investigated how mindfulness-based interventions may effectively address the psychosocial and behavioral needs of people with GDM.

Method

Using a qualitative, participant-centered co-design approach, we conducted individual interviews with participants (n = 14; aged 24–38 years) with current or recent GDM (< 1 year postpartum). Participants were introduced to and engaged in three types of mindfulness practices, followed by discussions about the potential usefulness of mindfulness to enhance maternal well-being and facilitate glucose management. Interviewers then presented participants with the content of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and gauged their opinions on feasibility, acceptability, and barriers and facilitators of engagement. We employed thematic analysis for qualitative data analysis.

Results

Three major themes emerged, including (1) mindfulness can improve key areas of health for people with GDM, including mental health, physical health and mobility, and eating habits; (2) potential mechanisms of action include decreasing stress, reducing internalized GDM stigma, and improving self-regulation; and (3) designing interventions responsive to target population needs is essential for success, including intervening early following diagnosis, practices that are shorter (e.g., 10–15 min) and easy to integrate into daily life, incorporating group/community, utilizing internet-based delivery with both synchronous and asynchronous components, attending to individual differences, addressing potential engagement barriers (e.g., cost, scheduling), and extending support to the postpartum period.

Conclusions

There is a lack of psychosocial and behavioral health support for people with GDM that goes beyond pharmaceutical solutions. This study, the first to explore mindfulness for GDM in a US context with postpartum extension, suggests tailored MBIs could enhance GDM care and promote optimal parental and fetal outcomes by addressing psychosocial barriers and promoting healthy lifestyles, informing future clinical interventions and strategies for GDM management and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.