ERIC Number: EJ1266069
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
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Available Date: N/A
Text-Based Mentoring for Postpartum Mothers: A Feasibility Study
Martin, Eleanor; Weiland, Christina; Page, Lindsay C.
Early Child Development and Care, v190 n10 p1537-1560 2020
Although text messaging interventions targeting parents of older students have shown promise for improving a variety of outcomes, evidence on text-based outreach and support for parents of young children is just emerging. We explore programmatic data from a text-based mentoring intervention designed to support postpartum mothers and promote healthy child development. We coded 18,897 texts from 162 mother-mentor pairs to describe their interactions. On average, mothers remained engaged for 296 days. Mothers and mentors discussed both child-focused (28% of exchanges) and mother-focused topics (8%). Mentors responded to 86% of mothers' problems within 48 hours, offering emotional support (39% of offers) and advice (35%) most frequently. Based on the demonstrated ability of the programme to engage mothers commensurate with other early parenting interventions, the content addressed in mother-mentor interactions, and the mentor offered supports, we conclude text-based mentoring may be a promising strategy for providing outreach and support to postpartum mothers.
Descriptors: Mothers, Depression (Psychology), Parenting Skills, Parent Education, Intervention, Computer Mediated Communication, Mentors, Mental Health, Child Development
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A