Health Education and Health Promotion

Abstract Aims: The present research was conducted to compare the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness on self-care in depressed women with gestational diabetes.
Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental research was conducted on depressed women with gestational diabetes who were referred to the healthcare centers in Ray County, Tehran. Forty-five individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and control. The two intervention groups, cognitive therapy and mindfulness, received eight sessions of 60 minutes each. The research tools included the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25 software and the mixed analysis of variance.
Findings: Mindfulness was significantly more effective in self-care behavior (p<0.01). However, both cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness methods led to increased diabetes self-care activities (p<0.01). After a one-month follow-up, both methods remained effective (p>0.05), although mindfulness showed a decreasing trend (p<0.01).
Conclusion: While both mindfulness and CBT show promise in enhancing self-care among depressed women with gestational diabetes, mindfulness appears particularly effective in addressing the complex interplay of depression and diabetes management. However, CBT demonstrates the potential for longer-lasting therapeutic effects.