General self-efficacy and social support as mediators of the association between perceived stress and quality of life among rural women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus

Pathway analysis of the impact of health literacy, social support and self-efficacy on self-management behaviors in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathways by which health literacy (HL), social support, and self-efficacy influence self-management behaviors of pregnant women with Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the interrelationships between the variables.

Methods

A total of 565 pregnant women with GDM was recruited. The Demographic Characteristics Form, Health Literacy Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, General Self-efficacy Scale and GDM Self-management Behavior Scale were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, zero-ordered correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed on the variables; Structural Equation Model (SEM) were constructed for pathway analysis.

Results

A positive correlation was found between health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors among pregnant women with GDM after adjusting for age, education level, income level, work status, parity, and family history of diabetes (r ranging from 0.203 to 0.533). A further multiple linear regression analysis showed that functional HL, communicative HL, critical HL, social support, and self-efficacy were all independent influences on self-management behaviors and accounted for 36.3% of the variance. Communicative HL and critical HL explained the strongest self-management behaviors (β = 0.316 and 0.255, respectively, p < 0.001). The SEM model was suitable for χ2/DF = 2.860, RMSEA = 0.060, IFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.943, and CFI = 0.952. The results showed direct positive effects of health literacy on self-management behaviors and self-efficacy, direct positive effects of social support on health literacy and self-efficacy. Social support and self-efficacy have had no significant direct impact on self-management behaviors, but social support may indirectly influence self-management behaviors through the health literacy mediation role.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers should pay attention to the positive impacts of health literacy and social support on self-management behaviors of pregnant women with GDM. Improving the health literacy level of pregnant women with GDM should be the key point of intervention in practice, and the social support system should be fully mobilized to enhance emotional support and life support to promote the improvement of self-management behaviors.

Psychometric Properties of General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale Korean Version for Older Korean Immigrants with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United States

Patients with diabetes must have self-efficacy to perform necessary self-care tasks. Self-efficacy has been considered as one of the primary motivators on diabetes self-care; therefore, it is essential for health care professionals to assess the self-efficacy of patients with diabetes to provide optimal care. Despite older Korean immigrants having greater difficulty in diabetes management, research on self-efficacy for them is lacking. This study aims to examine the psychometric property of the General Self-Efficacy scale Korean version for older Korean immigrants with diabetes in the United States. In this cross-sectional, methodological study, data were collected using convenience sampling. Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to examine the psychometric properties. Cronbach's alpha for the entire GSE scale Korean version is 0.81. The initial Eigenvalues show two factors, coping and confidence; however, the confirmatory factor analysis showed reasonable goodness of fit to the data (χ²(35) = 86.24, p < 0.01), χ²/df ratio = 2.46, AGFI = 0.87, GFI = 0.91, IFI = 0.90, ECVI = 0.74, CFI = 0.89, and RMSEA = 0.093 in the one-factor model. The General Self-Efficacy scale Korean version demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. It can be used to investigate self-efficacy and to devise culturally tailored diabetes interventions.

Factors affecting quality of life in low-income overweight and obese women: The mediating effects of health-promoting behaviors

BACKGROUND

It is necessary to comprehensively consider the personal and environmental factors of women who experience overweight or obesity and low-income households (WOOL) to improve their quality of life (QoL).

AIMS

The aim of this study was to test a hypothetical path model to estimate the effects of self-efficacy, psychological distress, social support, and health-promoting behaviors (HPB) on QoL and verify the mediating effects of HPB among WOOL.

METHODS

A total of 151 women with a monthly household income less than 50% of the national median income at eight welfare centers in South Korea participated in this study. Data were collected from January to December 2019 and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 23.0.

RESULTS

The fit indices of the model were adequate (χ²  = 0.197, p = .657; normed χ²  = 0.197, GFI = 0.999, CFI = 1.000, NFI = 0.999, TLI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.000, and SRMR = 0.005). Self-efficacy had significant indirect and total effects on QoL (β = 0.064, p = .004, 95% CI [0.015, 0.139]; β = 0.064, p = .004, 95% CI [0.015, 0.139]). HPB completely mediated the path of self-efficacy to QoL. Social support had significant total, direct, indirect, and total effects on QoL (β = 0.326, p = .001, 95% CI [0.010, 0.025]; β = 0.047, p = .015, 95% CI [0.008, 0.120]; β = 0.373, p = .001, 95% CI [0.015, 0.369]). HPB partially mediated the path of social support to QoL. Psychological distress had significant direct effects on QoL (β = -0.307, p = .001, 95% CI [-0.022, -0.007]). Self-efficacy, psychological distress, social support, and HPB explained 42.3% of the total variance in QoL.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Integrated nursing interventions that consider self-efficacy, psychological distress, social stress, and HPB can be useful for improving the QoL of WOOL.