A Systematic Review Of Social Media Use And Social Support Among New Mothers

Abstract

The systematic search was conducted in June 2023, spanning Web of Science, Scopus, Psychological Abstracts, and PubMed databases. We included studies written in English and published in journals between 2004 and 2023. A total of 31 articles met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The influencing factors identified were categorized into six main categories and 18 subcategories. 'Seeking information' and 'connecting with others' were the most frequently mentioned factors. Analysis of the frequency of publication by type of social media revealed that the 'Combination' category ranked highest. Through these previous studies, we identified two types of breastfeeding support, categorizing them as five main types of positive and four types of negative support. Informational support was highly valued, including appraisal, expertise, and normalization. The results suggest that new mothers may encounter both positive and negative support. This review highlights the understudied nature of the topic concerning the use of social media and the social support received by new mothers in a digital context. Nevertheless, further research is required to comprehend the diverse online support mothers receive via various media, prompting a more profound reflection on the interaction and integration of support from partners and significant others.