It takes a virtual village: Childbearing women's experience of a closed Facebook support group for mothers |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Health, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, University of Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia;2. Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, Engage Research Lab, University of Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia;1. La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia;2. Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia;3. Western Health, Melbourne, Australia;1. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Australia;2. Medical Faculty, Cenderawasih University, Papua, Indonesia;3. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Australia;4. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University, Australia;1. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, Groningen, The Netherlands;2. Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Midwifery Science AVAG, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;3. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Groningen, The Netherlands;1. Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Australia;2. Department of Neurology, Monash Health, Australia;3. Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Australia;4. Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia;5. Academic Unit, Peninsula Health, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia;6. Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia;7. Safer Care Victoria, Melbourne, Australia;8. Peninsula Health, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia;9. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia;10. The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia;1. NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute — The University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), South Brisbane, Australia;2. Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;3. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia;4. Griffith University, School of Medicine and Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia;5. SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia;6. University of Auckland and Counties Manukau Health, Auckland, New Zealand;1. National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU), Centre for Big Data Research in Health and School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052 Australia;2. Centre for Health Service Development, Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;3. Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Unit, St John of God Health Care, 23 Grantham St, Burwood NSW 2134, Australia;4. School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia;5. Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, 591 South Dowling Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia;6. Discipline of Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia;7. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney 2052, Australia;8. Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;9. Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundChildbearing women engage in large public pregnancy and parenting forums, primarily for the purpose of seeking information and advice. There is an absence of research related to women's engagement in closed and private online mothers’ groups.AimThe aim of this study was to explore the experiences of participation and support for members within a closed online mothers’ group.MethodA qualitative study using in-depth interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.FindingsThis study demonstrated that a closed online mothers’ group enabled a group of childbearing women to overcome isolation and form sustained, evolving and supportive friendships within a small, private and trusted group. The technology allowed women to engage and share at a level much deeper than what they would in “real life”. The depth of sharing was enhanced in a closed online mothers’ group due to a smaller, private audience of trusted friends. Virtual support felt safer than face-to-face support as information could not impact one's real world reputation, and communication was able to be controlled. This was particularly helpful to women experiencing social difficulties or isolation.ConclusionThis study has provided a unique and rare insight into the private world of closed online mothers’ groups. As a virtual village, this closed group enabled childbearing women to form a small community with members sharing responsibility and working for the wellbeing and benefit of all. By encouraging, locating and establishing similar groups, maternity health professionals may assist women to access their own ‘virtual village’. |
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| Keywords: | Pregnancy Support Social media Childbearing Facebook Mother's group |
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