JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

In the digital age, social networking sites (SNS) have revolutionized the approach to parenting. These platforms, widely used to access parenting information and support, have both positive and negative effects on parents, with negative effects potentially increasing for those experiencing loneliness or anxiety.

Objective:

This study aims to examine the relationship between SNS use and psychological distress among parents of young children, controlling for the moderating effects of loneliness and parenting anxiety. We hypothesized that higher SNS use correlates to greater psychological distress, particularly among parents with elevated levels of loneliness or parenting anxiety.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey design using a closed online questionnaire was used. Participants included 429 parents (205 mothers and 224 fathers) of children aged 0–3 recruited through an online survey company in Japan. The survey included measures of psychological distress, loneliness, parenting anxiety, frequency of SNS use for parenting, and covariates. Analytical models to explain psychological distress included interactions between loneliness or parenting anxiety and SNS use, individually for fathers and mothers.

Results:

For mothers, a significant interaction effect was determined only between parenting anxiety and SNS use (b = 0.247, SE = 0.091, P = 0.008). Meanwhile, for fathers, significant interaction effects were observed for both loneliness (b = 0.324, SE = 0.127, P = 0.012) and parenting anxiety (b = 0.144, SE = 0.069, P = 0.038) with SNS use. A simple slope analysis for mothers indicated that SNS use was related to psychological distress only at higher levels of parenting anxiety (b = 0.304, SE = 0.090, β = 0.317, P < 0.001). Among fathers, SNS use was associated with psychological distress at higher levels of either parenting anxiety (b = 0.330, SE = 0.069, β = 0.346, P < 0.001) or loneliness (b = 0.390, SE = 0.098, β = 0.409, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The study concludes that the relationship between SNS use and psychological distress among parents of young children is moderated by loneliness and parenting anxiety. The findings highlight the need for tailored approaches to help parents manage SNS use, particularly focusing on those with higher levels of loneliness and parenting anxiety. It is imperative for health professionals to provide nuanced guidance to parents on SNS use, considering individual psychological factors and potential gender differences in the impact of SNS on mental well-being.