Coping for Me and Matching for Us: Social Support Sharing Among Postpartum Mothers on Facebook

• In Event: Stress, Coping, and Social Support

Abstract

Despite the increasing popularity of support groups on social networking sites, little is known about whether postpartum mothers might benefit from joining online communities on social media to cope with psychological distress and depressive symptoms. This exploratory study examined optimal matching for social support among postpartum mothers on Facebook. A content analysis of 654 postings and comments from the two most popular Facebook pages for postpartum depression revealed that the overall amount of support offered exceeded the amount of support sought, although the types of content shared (i.e., seeking support, providing support, and personal coping) and the types of social support exchanged (i.e., informational and emotional) differed across the two pages, each of which had a distinct purpose. In addition, the members of each Facebook page participated in the community by showcasing their coping strategies, simultaneously enriching community resources for other users.

Authors

• Hyang-Sook Kim, Towson U

• Eun Soo Rhee, Towson U