Centring Parent Voice: Exploring Popularized Parenting Posts to Understand Parents' Information and Support Needs

Abstract

Despite the effectiveness of evidence-based parenting programmes in improving parenting skills, reducing child maltreatment and promoting children's emotional and cognitive development, their impact is hindered by persistently low participation rates. At the same time, parents are increasingly turning online for parenting content. Analysing this content can offer insights into parents' preferences for parenting information and illuminate ways to improve programme design and participation. This study investigates the (1) content parents popularize on parenting forums, (2) styles parents use to post and interact, and (3) differences between mother-centric and father-centric forums. Data were collected from three major parenting forums on Reddit using the platform's self-moderated voting system. The 10 most popular posts and top five comments per post (N = 180) were content analysed. Findings demonstrate that parents discussed a variety of challenges (e.g., grief and societal pressures) and successes (e.g., establishing safety/trust), often favouring storytelling over direct advice-seeking and engaging in supportive interactions. Whereas mother-centric and father-centric forums shared similarities, mother-centric discussions covered a broader range of topics and were more interactive. Findings suggest integrating popular parenting topics through storytelling, incorporating peer support, and considering role-specific interventions in the design and dissemination of parenting programmes.