A mixed-methods analysis of the role of online social support to promote psychological wellbeing in new mothers

Abstract

Objective Perinatal mental health problems affect between 1 in 3 and 1 in 10 women globally. Using social media could offer helpful support to new mothers to mitigate this. This research examines the impact of online social support on parental stress, and the mediating effect of maternal wellbeing. The goal is to improve understanding of how to optimise online maternal support to improve anxiety and reduce long-term stress for mother and child. Design A mixed-methods, convergent parallel design (QUANT-QUAL) is adopted to facilitate examination of the complex association between constructs. Methods A Qualtrics online survey was administered via social media to mothers of children under two (n = 151). Quantitative multiple regression analyses assessed perceptions of online social support overall and in separate domains (Social Networking Sites Usage and Needs Scale) as a predictor of parental stress (Parental Stress Scale) and the potential mediation effect of mental wellbeing (Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale). Purposely designed survey open-text questions allowed participants to describe the detail and impact of online support experiences and common stresses and formed the basis of a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis examining online support and maternal mental health. Results Mixed-method findings indicate that mothers perceiving more value in online support have higher stress levels and lower wellbeing than others. Mental wellbeing was a partial mediator of the relationship between online support and parental stress. Non-significant statistical effects were reinforced by qualitative themes indicating online support provided safe guidance, peer solidarity and parenting escape. Conclusions Maternal online support was predominantly used to cope with high stress, explaining positive stress correlations. Statistically, online coping strategies contributed little to mental wellbeing. Nevertheless, online support was regarded as a valuable and reassuring tool by some participants. Health professionals could improve perinatal anxiety coping by facilitating quality online support networks.

A influência das mídias sociais na educação em saúde durante a maternidade: Uma revisão integrativa

“…As mães que apresentam um mau estar, tendem a valorizar o suporte pela internet. Pode ser orientado como conduta, o uso das redes para suporte extra hospitalar, além de sites confiáveis, que contribuem para uma melhor saúde do binômio mãe-filho longitudinalmente (Henton & Swanson, 2023). Tal situação é explicada devido à manutenção de uma rede de apoio e do compartilhamento de experiências e informações, que possibilitam a ampliação do conhecimento e manejo de situações intrínsecas da maternidade (Nolan et al, 2017).…”

Representasi Ibu Millennial Melalui Semiotika Barthes (Studi Pada Akun Instagram @Tasyakamila)

“…Kehidupan kini seperti bergantung pada media sosial. Di sisi lain, ketergantungan pada media sosial dengan harapan yang tinggi dapat menyebabkan tingkat stress yang lebih tinggi pada ibu baru (Henton & Swanson, 2023).…”

“…Segala diskursus yang terjadi terkait nilai-nilai yang kerap ditempelkan pada seorang ibu memang tidak serta merta dapat dihilangkan begitu saja bahkan dalam ranah baru seperti media sosial. Namun, media sosial juga dapat membantu masyarakat dapat berpikiran lebih terbuka dan terbantu, khususnya dalam diskursus dunia ibu (Henton & Swanson, 2023;Orton-Johnson, 2017;Sanders, 2019;Setyastuti et al, 2019;Wilson, 2020). Sebagai seorang berjenis kelamin perempuan, layaknya dapat melihat sisi positif dan kehebatan perempuan dibandingkan jenis kelamin oposisinya (Djunina, 2016).…”