Exploring the influence of social media on adolescent mothers’ experiences of early motherhood

Abstract

In an era where social media permeates nearly every aspect of daily life, particularly among adolescents, its influence has become particularly profound during the early stages of motherhood. This study aimed to explore how adolescent mothers experience and interpret the influence of social media during their transition to early motherhood. To achieve this purpose, this study was guided by three objectives: (1) to explore adolescent mothers’ perceptions of how social media portrays early motherhood (2) to explore how adolescent mothers make sense of their lived experiences of early motherhood in the context of social media use, and (3) to interpret adolescent mothers’ reflections on whether social media use has supported or hindered their transition to motherhood. Adopting a constructivist paradigm and guided by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology, this research sought to capture the depth and complexity of participants’ lived experiences. Eight Maltese adolescent mothers aged 18 and 19 years, each between five and seven months postpartum, were recruited by the intermediary through purposive sampling from the two main general hospitals in Malta and Gozo. Data were gathered through semi-structured, audio-recorded, face-to-face interviews. All audio-recording were transcribed verbatim and analysed following Smith et al.’s (2022) eight-stage IPA framework. This study was also guided by the Social Comparison Theory. Ethical clearance was obtained and the principles of the Belmont Report (1979) were adhered to. Three group experiential themes emerged. Theme 1: The Double-Edged Nature of Social Media revealed that while digital platforms provided reassurance, advice, and connection, they also fuelled comparison, guilt, and anxiety. Theme 2: Making Sense of Social Media: Trust and Self-Efficacy at Stake demonstrated how participants wrestled with misinformation and conflicting opinions, often questioning their confidence before gradually learning to trust their instincts. Theme 3: Navigating Responsibility and Perception captured their frustration at being labelled “children raising children”, which motivated them to prove their competence in digital spaces. Collectively, these findings depict social media as both a lifeline and a liability - a source of belonging and guidance, yet also a mirror that amplifies vulnerability. The study highlights the need for professional support and digital literacy initiatives that help adolescent mothers engage critically with online content while fostering compassion, validation, and empowerment during their transition to motherhood. Moreover, adopting a longitudinal design, could highlight a clearer insight into the long-term effects of digital interactions on maternal identity and mental health.