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A Thematic Analysis of Mothers’ Motivations for Blogging

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Abstract

Introduction Various forms of social media are used by many mothers to maintain social ties and manage the stress associated with their parenting roles and responsibilities. ‘Mommy blogging’ as a specific type of social media usage is a common and growing phenomenon, but little is known about mothers’ blogging-related experiences and how these may contribute to their wellbeing. This exploratory study investigated the blogging-related motivations and goals of Australian mothers. Methods An online survey was emailed to members of an Australian online parenting community. The survey included open-ended questions that invited respondents to discuss their motivations and goals for blogging. A thematic analysis using a grounded approach was used to analyze the qualitative data obtained from 235 mothers. Results Five primary motivations for blogging were identified: developing connections with others, experiencing heightened levels of mental stimulation, achieving self-validation, contributing to the welfare of others, and extending skills and abilities. Discussion These motivations are discussed in terms of their various properties and dimensions to illustrate how these mothers appear to use blogging to enhance their psychological wellbeing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Simone Pettigrew

  2. School of Arts, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia

    Catherine Archer

  3. Business School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Paul Harrigan

Authors
  1. Simone Pettigrew
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  2. Catherine Archer
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  3. Paul Harrigan
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Correspondence to Simone Pettigrew.

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Pettigrew, S., Archer, C. & Harrigan, P. A Thematic Analysis of Mothers’ Motivations for Blogging. Matern Child Health J 20, 1025–1031 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1887-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1887-7

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