Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Compassion Therapy and Self-Care Education on Diabetic Self-Efficacy and Integrative Self-Knowledge in Women with Gestational Diabetes
Keywords:
gestational diabetes, mindfulness-based compassion therapy, self-care education, diabetic self-efficacy, integrative self-knowledgeAbstract
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based compassion therapy and self-care education on diabetic self-efficacy and integrative self-knowledge in women with gestational diabetes. The study was applied in purpose and quasi-experimental in design, using a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all women with gestational diabetes who referred to the Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Infertility Clinic of Sarem Specialized and Subspecialized Hospital in Tehran during 2025–26. Forty-five eligible women were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three equal groups: mindfulness-based compassion therapy, self-care education, and control group. The mindfulness-based compassion therapy group received eight 90-minute weekly sessions based on the Neff and Germer protocol, and the self-care education group received seven 90-minute weekly sessions based on chronic disease self-management principles. The control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and the Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale. Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS version 22. The results showed that both mindfulness-based compassion therapy and self-care education significantly improved diabetic self-efficacy and integrative self-knowledge compared with the control group. However, mindfulness-based compassion therapy produced significantly greater improvements than self-care education in both diabetic self-efficacy and integrative self-knowledge at posttest and follow-up. The follow-up results indicated that the effects of both interventions were relatively maintained over time. Mindfulness-based compassion therapy and self-care education were effective in improving diabetic self-efficacy and integrative self-knowledge in women with gestational diabetes. However, mindfulness-based compassion therapy was more effective than self-care education. These findings suggest that compassion-based and mindfulness-oriented interventions may be useful for strengthening confidence in diabetes management and improving coherent self-understanding in women with gestational diabetes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mahsa Rajaee (Author); Alireza Shokrgozar; Sheida Sodagar, Fatemeh Mohamadi Shirmahaleh, Maryam Mashayekh (Author)
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