PROVO -- It is no secret that social networking and blogging are good ways to stay connected to friends and family, but a new BYU study shows that connection may be beneficial, especially for first-time moms.
The study, which was recently published in Maternal and Child Health Journal, shows that first-time moms who blog regularly have less parental stress and higher marital satisfaction than moms who don't blog.
"One of the biggest impacts is that blogging lets you know there are other people out there going through the same things you are going through and it creates a sense of community," study author Brandon McDaniel said. "That sense of connection lowers the stress level that you are feeling; even if you are still experiencing the same stressors, your feelings about those stressors change."
The study found that the more a new mom blogged the less stress she felt about being a parent.
"You can feel stressed as a parent, but if you feel like there are people you can turn to that helps you deal with your stress better," said Erin Holmes, assistant professor in the School of Family Life at BYU.
Camille Beckstrand is one of six sisters who run the blog Six Sisters Stuff; the Kaysville mom says she noticed a big difference in her stress levels when she started blogging shortly after her second baby was born.
"I think it really helps with postpartum depression," she said. "You kind of feel like you are all alone, but with my second child I didn't have that because I had adult interaction and support. I didn't feel like I was going at it alone."
McDaniel says the positive effects of blogging were shown regardless of whether the blog was a public, high traffic blog or just a personal blog.
Former Orem resident Leandra Call said having a blog helped her adjust to being a first-time mom.
"From early on in my baby's life I was able to connect with other mothers and get their advice without having to leave the comfort of my own home," Call said. "I personally know most of the commenters on my blog, so I felt as though their advice was advice I could trust because it wasn't coming from a complete stranger like some of the answers you find on public message boards."
The study also looked at the effects social networking had on the transition into parenthood, but McDaniel said no positive effects were related to using Facebook or other social networking sites.
"We speculate that might be just an artifact of the different ways that people use blogs and social networks," he said. "It may be that with social networking they don't get that same sense of connection."
Holmes says the implications of the study can impact the welfare of moms and babies for years to come.
"Any way we can improve new moms' well-being is a good thing," Holmes said. "We don't want moms out there feeling really stressed or depressed. We care about their babies, and when mom is not stressed and feels good about her marriage, the baby is more likely to be doing well."
