Digital loneliness and perceived excessive postpartum social support in primiparous women using social media: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the relationship between digital loneliness and perceived excessive postpartum social support among primiparous postpartum women using social media.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the obstetrics wards of two hospitals affiliated with a foundation university between 9 December 2024 and 30 March 2025, after ethical approval and institutional permissions had been obtained. The sample included 293 women aged 18-49 years who had given birth for the first time, used at least one social media platform, and were within the first 29 postpartum days. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Virtual Environment Loneliness Scale, and the Postpartum Excessive Social Support Scale. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression.

FINDINGS: Women who perceived greater excessive postpartum social support also reported higher digital loneliness (r = 0.326, p < 0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, postpartum day, education level, employment status, income level, and daily social media use (B = 0.007, 95% CI: 0.003 to 0.011, β=0.183, p < 0.001). Longer daily social media use was also independently associated with higher digital loneliness (B = 0.154, 95% CI: 0.114 to 0.194, β=0.379, p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that postpartum support should be considered not only in terms of its availability, but also in terms of whether it is experienced as functional, intrusive, or burdensome. Assessing mothers' digital support experiences may help midwives identify women who feel digitally connected but emotionally unsupported.

CONCLUSION

Perceived excessive postpartum social support was associated with digital loneliness among primiparous postpartum women using social media. Postpartum care could distinguish between functional online support and digital loneliness and assess mothers' social media use patterns alongside face-to-face support resources. Because of the cross-sectional design, the findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal relationships.