Graduation Term
Spring 2025
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Committee Chair
Tammy Harpel
Committee Member
Luke Russell
Committee Member
Chang Su-Russell
Abstract
Pregnant women faced additional challenges in accessing reliable support and pregnancy- related information, leading to increased distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quarantine measures limited doctor’s appointments and isolated pregnant women from their families, which meant that meaningful connections and convenient information was important.
The purpose of this study is to explore the implications of COVID-19 social distancing on pregnant women, with a focus on three questions: 1) what digital technologies did pregnant women use for support and information seeking purposes during the pandemic? 2) how did pregnant women use technology to seek social support during the pandemic? 3) how did pregnant women use technology for information seeking during the pandemic? A secondary qualitative analysis was conducted using ten out of twenty-seven interviews from a larger study on women’s use of technology during pregnancy. Findings revealed that participants used various digital tools to share pregnancy updates and seek information. These insights highlight the importance of using technology in supporting pregnant women. Future research should examine diverse populations, including those with different pregnancy histories, high-risk pregnancies, and varying socioeconomic statuses.
Access Type
Thesis-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Knowlton, Sarah, "Scrolling for Two: An Exploration of Pregnant Women's Social Support and Information Seeking Behaviors Using Technology During the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 2122.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2122