Objective To investigate the status of risk perception, social resource support, and self-management ability in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to analyze the correlations of self-management ability with risk perception and social resource support. Methods Using convenience sampling, 227 GDM patients were selected for this cross-sectional study. Data were collected through the General Information Questionnaire, risk perception scale for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, social resource support scale of pregnant women with gestational diabetes, and self-management scale for patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. A total of 218 valid questionnaires were collected (effective response rate: 96.0%). Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations among risk perception, social resource support, and self-management level in pregnant women with GDM; univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were employed to identify influencing factors of self-management level in this population. Results The total score of the risk perception scale for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus was (99.43±11.50) points, the total score of the social resource support scale of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus was (136.15±24.75) points, and the total score of the self-management scale for patients with gestational diabetes mellitus was (133.11±13.99) points; the above showed that the self-management ability of pregnant women with GDM was at a good level (standard score: 83.19 points), while their risk perception (standard score: 68.57 points) and social resource support (standard score: 71.66 points) were at moderate levels. Correlation analysis showed that the severity and susceptibility perceptions dimensions of risk perception were positively correlated with self-management (r=0.564 to 0.609), while the risk control and social risk dimensions were negatively correlated with self-management (r=-0.390 to -0.311); all dimensions of social resource support were positively correlated with self-management (r=0.346 to 0.748). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that the level of social resource support (β=0.62, P<0.001) was the strongest predictor of self-management ability, followed by monthly household income per capita, family history of diabetes, and risk perception level (all P<0.05). Conclusions The self-management ability of pregnant women with GDM is generally good, while there is room for improvement in risk perception and social resource support. Social resource support is the most critical influencing factor for self-management. The role of risk perception in self-management is dual, suggesting that clinical interventions should focus on enhancing disease threat awareness while reducing feelings of loss of control and social concerns, and building a diversified social support network to further improve self-management ability. 

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