Social Media and Parental Mental Health

Abstract

This review study aims to examine the multifaceted effects of social media use on parental mental health. Recently, social media platforms have become a significant resource for parents, providing not only access to information on child-rearing and expert advice for families but also a source of social support. Through these platforms, parents can quickly and easily access the information they need and share their experiences with others who are going through similar processes. However, the filtered and idealized portrayals of parenting that are frequently shared on social media often lead parents to compare themselves with others and feel pressured to behave similarly, which can result in or exacerbate negative outcomes such as feelings of inadequacy, guilt, stress, anxiety, and depression. In particular, parenting influencers who present their experiences as flawless may create additional pressure on new parents. Furthermore, the potentially addictive nature of social media can have negative consequences for parents. Social comparison theory forms the theoretical basis of this study and provides a framework for understanding how parents’ exposure to social media content influences their psychological well-being. Using a literature review method, studies published after 2014 were examined, revealing that the positive and negative effects of social media on parents vary according to usage purpose, type of content, personality traits, and level of exposure. Excessive and unregulated use can lead to addiction, burnout, social isolation, and weakened family communication. In contrast, mindful and selective use can foster social support, a sense of belonging, improved parenting skills, and reduced postpartum loneliness. Parents are therefore encouraged to manage their screen time effectively, stay aware of potential negative effects, and take steps to increase their privacy awareness.

Keywords

• social media
• parenting
• mental health
• psychological well-being

Sosyal Medya ve Ebeveyn Ruh Sağlığı

Öz

Bu derleme çalışması, sosyal medya kullanımının ebeveyn ruh sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini farklı yönleriyle incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Son yıllarda sosyal medya platformları, ebeveynler için çocuk yetiştirme konularında bilgiye ve ailelerle çalışan uzmanlara erişimin yanında, sosyal destek de sağlayan, önemli bir kaynak hâline gelmiştir. Anne babalar, sosyal medya aracılığıyla aradıkları bilgilere kolay ve hızlı bir şekilde ulaşmakta ve kendileriyle benzer süreçlerden geçen diğer ebeveynlerle deneyimlerini paylaşmaktadır. Ancak sosyal medyada sıklıkla paylaşılan filtrelenmiş ve idealize edilmiş ebeveynlik temsilleri, ebeveynlerin kendilerini diğerleriyle karşılaştırmalarına ve benzer davranma konusunda baskı hissetmelerine yol açarak yetersizlik, suçluluk, stres, kaygı ve depresyon gibi olumsuz durumlara neden olabilmekte veya bunları artırabilmektedir. Özellikle içerik üreticisi ebeveynlerin, deneyimlerini kusursuzmuş gibi paylaşmaları, yeni ebeveynler üzerinde baskı yaratabilmektedir. Ayrıca sosyal medyanın bağımlılık yapıcı özelliği de ebeveynler için olumsuz sonuçlar doğurmaktadır. Sosyal karşılaştırma kuramı bu çalışmanın kuramsal temelini oluşturmuş ve ebeveynlerin sosyal medyada maruz kaldıkları içeriklerin psikolojik iyi oluşlarını nasıl etkilediğini anlamak için bir zemin hazırlamıştır. Literatür taraması yöntemiyle gerçekleştirilen bu araştırmada, veri tabanlarında 2014 sonrası yayınlanmış çalışmalar incelenmiş ve sosyal medyanın ebeveynler üzerindeki olumlu ve olumsuz etkilerinin kullanım amacı, içerik türü, ebeveynin kişilik özellikleri ve maruz kalma düzeyine göre değiştiği görülmüştür. Sosyal medya, aşırı ve bilinçsiz kullanıldığında bağımlılık, tükenmişlik, sosyal izolasyon ve aile içi iletişimde zayıflama gibi sonuçlara yol açarken, bilinçli ve seçici kullanıldığında sosyal destek, aidiyet hissi, ebeveynlik becerilerinde gelişim ve doğum sonrası yalnızlığın azalması gibi olumlu katkılar sunabilmektedir. Bu nedenle ebeveynlerin sosyal medya kullanırken kullanım süresini iyi yönetmeleri, olumsuz etkilerin farkında olmaları ve mahremiyet bilincini artırma yönünde adımlar atmaları önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• sosyal medya
• ebeveynlik
• ruh sağlığı
• psikolojik iyi oluş

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