Forældreudbrændthed - Sociale medier som et pres eller en ressource?

Abstract

This master thesis is a theoretical exploration of parental burnout from a social constructivist perspective. It seeks to explore the impact of social media on parental burnout in the context of current parental tendencies. Research on parental burnout shows a significant increase in the prevalence of parents showing signs of burnout in recent years. To understand this increase, there is a need for research exploring the impact of the context in which parents are situated today. The main purpose of this thesis is to understand how current parental tendencies can increase the risk of parental burnout and how social media affects parents in the context of these tendencies. To examine this, the logic of the BR2 model has been utilized. BR2 highlights the importance of identifying demands and resources in parents' lives to understand why parents’ burnout. Embedded in this logic is a balance metaphor which suggests that parental burnout results from an imbalance between demands and resources. This logic has been applied to examine whether social media, as a source of information, an arena for comparison, and a source of social contact, can be considered either a demand or a resource to parents in the context of three selected parental tendencies including infant and parental determinism, expert-guided parenting, and the culture of perfection in a performance-oriented society. It has been argued that current parental tendencies seem to impose high expectations and ideals, contributing to stress and feelings of inadequacy among parents. This is considered a demand that can lead to an imbalance between demands and resources, hence leading to parental burnout. The role of social media in this balance seems complex. It has been argued that the three aspects of social media mentioned above can increase pressure on parents while also providing support in managing parenthood. It can amplify the demands, which emerge from the tendencies, through unrealistic standards and comparisons, yet also provide valuable resources like social support and information. The findings suggest that parental tendencies may play a role in the increasing prevalence of parental burnout observed today, while social media has the potential to influence the development of parental burnout both positively and negatively. However, the impact of social media seems to depend on the type of content, the type of contact, and the type of comparison, as well as parents' interpretation and use of the content on social media in their parenting. Through this thesis, it has thus become evident that the relationship between parental tendencies, parents' use of social media, and parental burnout is complex, and it is not possible to definitively determine the impact of social media on the development of parental burnout in the context of current parental tendencies. Nonetheless, it has been highlighted that the context in which parents are situated has the potential to influence the development of burnout, indicating a need for further research on this topic. It is considered relevant to investigate the significance of other parental tendencies and other tendencies and structures in society. Additionally, the significance of social media for individual parents through interviews, the impact of specific social media platforms, and the agency of the parents are seen as relevant perspectives for future research.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Forældreudbrændthed - Sociale medier som et pres eller en ressource?

[Parental Burnout - Social media: Pressure or Resource?]