JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

In today’s digital society, the acquisition of parenting information through online platforms such as social networking sites (SNS) has become widespread. Amid the mix of online and offline information sources, there is a need to discover effective information-seeking methods for solving parenting problems.

Objective:

This study aimed to identify patterns of information use among parents of young children in the digital age and elucidate the characteristics of these patterns through a comparative analysis of social support and parental self-efficacy.

Methods:

An online survey was administered with fathers and mothers of children aged 03 years. Convenience sampling, facilitated by an online survey company, was adopted, and data from 227 fathers and 206 mothers were analyzed. The survey included questions on personal characteristics; frequency of use of different sources of parenting information (websites, SNSs, parenting apps, family, friends, and professionals); perceived social support; and parental self-efficacy. K-means cluster analysis was used to extract the patterns of parenting information use, followed by covariance analysis.

Results:

Eight clusters were identified. Three clusters presented patterns with a combination of online and face-to-face information sources. Results from the analysis of covariance constructed with clusters and covariates revealed significant explanatory models for family support (F(17, 380)=5.98, P<.001), friend support (F(17, 380)=6.49, P<.001), and parenting self-efficacy (F(17, 379)=6.14, P<.001). Compared to Hybrid / Multichannel clusters, clusters with patterns with a relatively greater reliance on online information compared to face-to-face sources, a bias toward information from family sources, and a low frequency of information use across all sources were characterized by lower levels of social support and parental self-efficacy.

Conclusions:

This study adds to the evidence that online information can effectively supplement offline information in addressing parenting challenges, albeit with limited functionality as a substitute. These findings suggest the importance for parenting support professionals to simultaneously enhance information literacy and strengthen social relationships among parents, tailored to their information use patterns.