Stressed-out new moms seek support on Facebook

According to a small, exploratory study published in the journal Family Relations, many first-time parents - particularly mothers - actually increase the amount of time they spend on Facebook after the birth of their child.

Health24.com reports the findings suggest that, despite all the new demands faced by new parents, spending time on Facebook was worthwhile to them. This is particularly so for mothers, who may spend more time at home taking care of the baby. Facebook may be a way to connect with friends and family and seek support during a stressful time.

Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, co-author of the study and associate professor of human development and family science at Ohio State University said 44% of mothers said their Facebook use increased after giving birth, compared to 27% who said it decreased and 29% who said it stayed the same. For fathers, 31% said their Facebook use increased, while 19% said it decreased and 51% said it stayed the same. "Given all the stress that new parents are under and everything they have to manage, it wouldn't have been surprising if we had found a decrease in Facebook usage - but that's not what we found," she said, according to Health24.com.

Read the full article on www.health24.com.