Sleep, chronotype, and psychosocial well-being in gestational diabetes mellitus: An integrated behavioral and psychosocial evaluation

No SJR dataJan 22, 2026Chronobiology international

Sleep patterns, body clock types, and mental well-being in pregnancy with gestational diabetes

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Abstract

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) showed significantly poorer sleep quality and higher fatigue compared to normoglycemic controls.

Women with GDM reported worse sleep quality, increased fatigue severity, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Perceived social support was lower in the GDM group compared to controls.
The GDM group had a higher prevalence of evening chronotype, while controls were predominantly morning types.
Although depressive symptoms were higher in women with GDM, rates of clinically significant depression did not differ from controls.
Neonates of mothers with GDM had higher birth weights and increased rates of NICU admissions.

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Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse metabolic and obstetric outcomes, yet its impact on behavioral, psychosocial, and chronobiological factors remains inadequately characterized. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate sleep quality, chronotype, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms in women with GDM using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). A total of 618 pregnant women (273 with GDM and 345 normoglycemic controls) were enrolled. Women with GDM exhibited significantly poorer sleep quality ( < 0.001), heightened fatigue severity ( < 0.001), and excessive daytime sleepiness ( < 0.001), lower perceived social support ( < 0.001) compared to controls. Evening chronotype was higher in the GDM group ( < 0.001), whereas controls were predominantly morning types. Although EPDS scores were elevated in GDM ( < 0.001), rates of clinically significant depression (EPDS ≥ 13) did not differ. Neonates of GDM mothers had higher birth weights ( < 0.001) and greater NICU admission rates ( < 0.001). In conclusion, GDM is associated with poorer sleep quality, greater fatigue, higher daytime sleepiness, evening chronotype, and reduced perceived social support, alongside adverse neonatal outcomes. p p p p p p p p

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