New Mothers and Media Use: Associations Between Blogging, Social Networking, and Maternal Well-Being

• Published in: Maternal and child health journal 2012-10, Vol.16 (7), p.1509-1517
• Main Authors: McDaniel, Brandon T., Coyne, Sarah M., Holmes, Erin K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Blogging - statistics & numerical data; Blogging - utilization; Blogs; Childrens health; Depression, Mental; Families & family life; Female; Gynecology; Health Surveys; Humans; Infant; Internet; Internet access; Logistic Models; Male; Maternal and Child Health; Maternal Welfare; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Networking; Parenting; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Personal Satisfaction; Population Economics; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological aspects; Public Health; Social aspects; Social Media - statistics & numerical data; Social Media - utilization; Social Networking; Social networks; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology; Stress; Weblogs; Well being
• ISSN: 1092-7875; 1573-6628
• DOI: 10.1007/s10995-011-0918-2

Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory and prior empirical research, the current study examines the way that blogging and social networking may impact feelings of connection and social support, which in turn could impact maternal well-being (e.g., marital functioning, parenting stress, and depression). One hundred and fifty-seven new mothers reported on their media use and various well-being variables. On average, mothers were 27 years old (SD = 5.15) and infants were 7.90 months old (SD = 5.21). All mothers had access to the Internet in their home. New mothers spent approximately 3 hours on the computer each day, with most of this time spent on the Internet. Findings suggested that frequency of blogging predicted feelings of connection to extended family and friends which then predicted perceptions of social support. This in turn predicted maternal well-being, as measured by marital satisfaction, couple conflict, parenting stress, and depression. In sum, blogging may improve new mothers’ well-being, as they feel more connected to the world outside their home through the Internet.