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Mother, baby and Facebook makes three: does social media provide social support for new mothers?
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Mother, baby and Facebook makes three: does social media provide social support for new mothers?

C. Archer and K-T Kao
Media International Australia, Vol.168(1)
2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878X18783016
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Abstract

Many mothers can find themselves increasingly isolated and overwhelmed after giving birth to a new baby. This period can be a source of extreme stress, anxiety and depression, which can not only have an economic impact on national health services, but can also have long-term effects on the development of the child. At the same time, social media use among most new mothers has become ubiquitous. This research investigates the role of social media, potentially as a mechanism for social support, among Australian mothers of young children aged from birth to 4 years. The findings indicate that participants had mixed responses to their social media use. While social support was deemed a benefit, there were also some negative aspects to social media use identified. The findings highlight the need to critically interrogate social media’s ability to act as a source of social support for new mothers.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

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196 Record Views
77 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

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Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.185 Communication
6.185.1004 Digital Media Impact
Web Of Science research areas
Communication
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
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