The Use of International Web Blogs by Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in COVID-19 Pandemic: Thoughts, Emotions and Coping Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has walked into our lives as a source of social isolation. This study aims to determine, by using web blogs, the emotions, thoughts and coping strategies of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping developed by Lazarus and Folkman. This study, which was designed as a descriptive qualitative study, uses international web blogs as the data source. The statements of 42 women determined between April and May 2021 were evaluated with the directed qualitative content analysis in accordance with the aim of the study. The themes of this study were determined as psychological changes, cognitive changes, changes in social life, changes in the diagnosis and treatment process and coping strategies. While some of the women interpret the pandemic process to be death-equivalent, lonely, helpless and worrying, others commentate that being at home is reassuring, they are satisfied with online health services and their relations with their partners are positively affected. It is thought that the online sharing platforms (blogs, forums and so forth) used during the pandemic process have an effect on sharing the feelings and thoughts, and coping strategies in GDM management.