"Scrolling for Two: An Exploration of Pregnant Women's Social Support a" by Sarah Knowlton

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

Included in

Agriculture Commons

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