Volume 69, Issue 9 p. 1073-1083
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Isolated, overwhelmed, and worried: Young first-time mothers asking for information and support online

Ian Ruthven

Corresponding Author

Ian Ruthven

Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, UK

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Steven Buchanan

Corresponding Author

Steven Buchanan

Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, UK

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Cara Jardine

Corresponding Author

Cara Jardine

Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, UK

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 25 May 2018
Citations: 33

Abstract

This study investigates the emotional content of 174 posts from 162 posters to online forums made by young (age 14–21) first-time mothers to understand what emotions are expressed in these posts and how these emotions interact with the types of posts and the indicators of Information Poverty within the posts. Using textual analyses we provide a classification of emotions within posts across three main themes of interaction emotions, response emotions, and preoccupation emotions and show that many requests for information by young first-time mothers are motivated by negative emotions. This has implications for how moderators of online news groups respond to online request for help and for understanding how to support vulnerable young parents.