Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41500645›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Psychometric validation of the Internalised Stigma Scale for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (ISS-GDM): a cross-sectional study.

Emma Davidsen, Helle Terkildsen Maindal, Karl Bang Christensen, Peter Damm, Molly Byrne, Inger K Dahl-Petersen, Elisabeth R Mathiesen, Dorte M Jensen, Christina Vinter, Ulla Kampmann and 2 more

Abstract readValidation StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Emma DavidsenDepartment of Prevention, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark emma.davidsen@regionh.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1753-1858
Helle Terkildsen MaindalDepartment of Prevention, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
Karl Bang ChristensenUniversity of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4518-5187
Peter DammRigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Molly ByrneUniversity of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Inger K Dahl-PetersenDepartment of Prevention, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
Elisabeth R MathiesenDepartments of Endocrinology and Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dorte M JensenOdense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Christina VinterSteno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5084-6053
Ulla KampmannSteno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
Per G OvesenSteno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
Karoline Kragelund NielsenSteno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4058-0615

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo develop and validate the Internalised Stigma Scale for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (ISS-GDM), a questionnaire measuring self-reported internalised stigma among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We hypothesised that internalised GDM stigma could be reliably and validly assessed through a short psychometric instrument.

designCross-sectional validation study.

settingFollow-up data from the Danish, multicentre Face-it trial for women with prior GDM and their families.

participantsIn total, 248 women completed the ISS-GDM approximately 1 year after their GDM affected pregnancy. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was psychometric properties of the ISS-GDM, assessed using Cronbach's alpha, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis (RA). Secondary outcomes included identification of item anomalies (local response dependence, differential item functioning).

resultsA large proportion of respondents endorsed statements reflecting self-disappointment, self-blame and an altered self-perception. Less endorsed statements included feeling inferior to other mothers or guilt towards family members due to GDM. The ISS-GDM demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. CFA indicated that item 2 assessing self-perceived capabilities as a mother did not load onto the main factor, while CFA and RA identified local response dependence and differential item functioning by body mass index. After adjustments, a two-factor solution supported calculating a sum score of items 1 and 3-11, with item 2 retained as a stand-alone indicator of perceived parenting capabilities. The 10-item scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.78).

conclusionsThe ISS-GDM is a reliable and valid tool for assessing internalised stigma among women with prior GDM. Our findings further suggest that a substantial proportion of women with prior GDM experience self-blame and an altered self-perception due to their diagnosis. The ISS-GDM scale enables research into its prevalence, severity and consequences.

Indexed as

Diabetes, GestationalSocial StigmaAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDenmarkFactor Analysis, StatisticalFemaleHumansPregnancyPsychometricsReproducibility of ResultsSelf ConceptSurveys and QuestionnairesDiabetes in pregnancyFactor Analysis, StatisticalStereotypingSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID41500645
PMCPMC12781981

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.