Lack of alternative: Chinese first-time mothers’ construction of social support network of online secondary groups

Abstract

Background As a result of rapid modernization and the long-term implementation of One Child Policy, Chinese first-time mothers’ primary child-raising social support network is gradually shrinking. At the same time, the social support system for child raising is still very incomplete. Therefore, Chinese first-time mothers generally face great pressure. Objective This paper aims to understand Chinese first-time mothers’ construction of social support network of online secondary groups. Methods This paper employs a qualitative research method, with semi-structured interviews with 23 participants, two focus groups and observations conducted in nine online child-raising communities. Results Based on the principle of instrumental rationality first-time mothers use various strategies to join different types of online communities and their online social support network is always the dynamic changing. The online social support network is a supplementary channel in which first-time mothers can obtain both instrumental and emotional support. But communication risks and ethical issues remain, such as information exchange interfered by commercial capital, widespread anxiety and superficial social relationships. Conclusions Online social support network is an alternative for Chinese first-time mothers and they urgently need a more well-rounded social support network system with government leading and multiple subjects participating in it.