Unpacking the Influence: Social Media’s Impact on Maternal Attachment and Anxiety: A Scoping Review

Rajput Ankita; Chadha Lisa  lowast; Kulpooja

doi:10.58739/jcbs/v14i3.79

Article

Unpacking the Influence: Social Media’s Impact on Maternal Attachment and Anxiety: A Scoping Review

VIEWS 300
PDF 78

Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

DOI: 10.58739/jcbs/v14i3.79

Year: 2024, Volume: 14, Issue: 3, Pages: 70-74

Review Article

Unpacking the Influence: Social Media’s Impact on Maternal Attachment and Anxiety: A Scoping Review

Rajput Ankita¹, Chadha Lisa^2∗, Kulpooja³

¹M.Sc. Nursing student, Faculty of Nursing, SGT University, Haryana, India
²Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, SGT University, Haryana, India
³Associate professor, Faculty of Nursing, SGT University, Haryana, India

*Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

Received Date:29 July 2024, Accepted Date:23 August 2024, Published Date:25 September 2024

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The scoping review explores the multifaceted influence of social media on maternal attachment and anxiety, crucial components of maternal mental health and child development. Maternal attachment, defined as the emotional bond between mother and child, and maternal anxiety, encompassing stress related to parenting responsibilities, are examined in light of contemporary digital media use. Ten studies included in this review encompassing various research methodologies—quantitative, qualitative, longitudinal, and experimental—were systematically reviewed. Findings highlight social media's dual role: while it provides valuable support and resources, it also poses risks by potentially exacerbating maternal anxiety and influencing attachment patterns. Notably, digital platforms facilitate social support networks and information exchange among mothers, yet studies reveal nuanced impacts on attachment dynamics and anxiety levels. Geographically diverse studies underscore global relevance, though language bias limits inclusivity. This synthesis underscores the need for nuanced, culturally sensitive research to guide interventions promoting healthy maternal well-being amidst digital media use.

Keywords: Maternal attachment, Social media, Anxiety

References

Lutkiewicz K, Bieleninik Ł, Cieślak M, Bidzan M. Maternal-Infant Bonding and Its Relationships with Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Stress and Anxiety in the Early Postpartum Period in a Polish Sample. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(15):1–12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph17155427
Virk S. Connecting in the Digital Age: Navigating Technology and social media - Visual Life. Visual Life. Available from: https://rikithompson.ds.lib.uw.edu/visuallife/connecting-in-the-digital-age-navigating-technology-and-social-media/
Chee RM, Capper TS, Muurlink OT. The impact of social media influencers on pregnancy, birth, and early parenting experiences: A systematic review. Midwifery. 2023;120:1–12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103623
Ilyka D, Johnson MH, SLF. Infant social interactions and brain development: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2021;130:448–469. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.001
Costas T, Gomes-Ferreira M. Physiological and Hormonal Changes During Pregnancy. In: Post-maternity Body Changes . (pp. 9-23) Springer, Cham. 2023.
Modak A, Ronghe V, Gomase KP, Mahakalkar MG, Taksande V. A Comprehensive Review of Motherhood and Mental Health: Postpartum Mood Disorders in Focus. Cureus. 2023;15(9). Available from: https://doi.org/10.7759%2Fcureus.46209
Kaur G, Bonde U, Pise KL, Yewale S, Agrawal P, Shobhane P, et al. Social Media in the Digital Age: A Comprehensive Review of Impacts, Challenges and Cybercrime. Engineering Proceedings. 2024;62(1):1–10. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2024062006
Chauhan A, Potdar J. Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy: A Critical Review. Cureus. 2022;14(10). Available from: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30656
Moon RY, Mathews A, Oden R, Carlin R. Mothers’ Perceptions of the Internet and Social Media as Sources of Parenting and Health Information: Qualitative Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2019;21(7). Available from: https://doi.org/10.2196/14289
Smith M, Mitchell AS, Townsend ML, Herbert JS. The relationship between digital media use during pregnancy, maternal psychological wellbeing, and maternal-fetal attachment. PLoS One. 2020;15(12):1–15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243898
Lindh JA, Tey J, Hall MEL, Anderson TL, Willingham MM, Wang D. Maternal Attachment and Maternal Behavior: The Role of Maternal Affect. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2023;32(7):2004–2014. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02437-4
Coyne SM, Shawcroft J, Gale M, Reich SM, Linder L, McDaniel B, et al. Digital distraction or accessible aid? Parental media use during feedings and parent-infant attachment, dysfunction, and relationship quality. Computers in Human Behavior. 2022;127. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.107051
Slomian J, Bruyère O, Reginster JY, Emonts P. The internet as a source of information used by women after childbirth to meet their need for information: A web-based survey. Midwifery. 2017;48:46–52. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28324809/
Barkin JL, Bloch JR, Hawkins KC, Thomas TS. Barriers to Optimal Social Support in the Postpartum Period. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. 2014;43(4):445–454. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12463
Zayia D, Parris L, Mcdaniel B, Braswell G, Zimmerman C. Social learning in the digital age: Associations between technoference, mother-child attachment, and child social skills. Journal of School Psychology. 2021;87:64–81. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2021.06.002
Boyd RC, Price J, Mogul M, Yates T, Guevara JP. Pilot RCT of a social media parenting intervention for postpartum mothers with depression symptoms. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2019;37(3):290–301. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2018.1556788
Ashford MT, Ayers S, Olander EK. Interest in web-based treatments for postpartum anxiety: an exploratory survey. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2017;35(4):394–409. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2017.1320364
Ghadeer HAA, Kishi NAA, Almubarak DM, Almurayhil Z, Alhafith F, Makainah BAA, et al. Pregnancy-Related Anxiety and Impact of Social Media Among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care. Cureus. 2021;13(12). Available from: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.20081
Linder L, Mcdaniel BT, Jaffe H. Moment-to-Moment Observation of Parental Media Use and Parent-Child Interaction: Quality and Media Multitasking. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies. 2022;2022:1–9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4896637

Copyright

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Published By Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education, Kolar, Karnataka