Social Comparison Leads to an Increase in Stress and Negative Emotions Among Moms

Danielle Marie Holland, a freelance writer, told Parents that she lived in a rural area where a community was hard to come by. The essayist sought out connections with other moms, specifically new moms and parents online. In her early years as a first-time parent, she realized some considerable changes to her mental health and stress levels, which she mainly obtained from specific online spaces.

She also found herself being toxic in online spaces and learned she was comparing her child, experiences, and their own lives to other people, and most especially herself. Unknowingly, she was acting like she was living on social media, where she had to do certain things to impress others. She was included in a group of moms and liked pages filled with acronyms that she only learned the meaning of through Google.

Other moms shared specific problems and stories and, at times, openly shared judgment. Unknowingly, she was experiencing social comparison on the platform, increasing her stress and negative emotions. But she soon realized that she has to seek spaces where she feels uplifted and can show up as her entire self.

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The increased numbers of social comparison

A new study entitled Naturalistic Social Cognitive and Emotional Reactions to Technology-Mediated Social Exposures and Cortisol in Daily Life determined that moms who spend more time online experience greater social comparison, eventually leading to stress and negative emotions.

The outlet contributor added that she experienced such things, especially in the years since her rural country days. She asked if the community genuinely supported her and if she felt uplifted from her time there. She also asked herself if she felt drained and depressed while engaging in a particular district on social media. Fortunately, she has learned to be mindful of and note when she instantly finds herself comparing her own's life to the public curation of others.

The study on social media exposure and cortisol levels says that society is almost rife with social comparison and serves as a pitfall for parents, particularly moms. The study determined that moms compare themselves online, which seems to bring out sadness and anger amidst the cortisol release. What happens at smaller or lesser intervals has become overwhelming with one's capacity to be in various online spaces and for far more significant amounts of time.

New moms experience mental health issues

A study entitled "Do You Dare to Compare?" Associations Between Maternal Social Comparisons on Social Networking Sites and Parenting, Mental Health, and Romantic Relationship Outcomes examine and analyze the connection between social comparisons and moms' mental health, including parenting behaviors.

The study determined that moms who often compared themselves on social media felt overwhelmed, depressed, and less competent. Roughly 15-20 percent of new moms report encountering mental health issues, specifically during the perinatal and postpartum periods.

Usually, individuals on social media act highly optimistic, especially moms who feel severely pressured to be perfect. Per Nurture Therapy, struggling moms compare themselves to the picture-perfect idyllic image of motherhood, making them feel like they are falling short.

Parents suggest seeking an online group where you can feel uplifted and find a community that will support you for who you are, with and without your imperfections or flaws.

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