Supporting the Complex Social Lives of New Parents

Austin Toombs, Kellie Morrissey, Colin Gray, Emma Simpson, John Vines, Madeline Balaam

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    25 Citations (Scopus)
    12 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    One of the many challenges of becoming a parent is the shift in one’s social life. As HCI researchers have begun to investigate the intersection of sociotechnical system design and parenthood, they have also sought to understand how parents’ social lives can be best supported. We build on these strands of research through a qualitative study with new parents regarding the role of digital technologies in their social lives as they transition to parenthood. We demonstrate how sociotechnical systems are entangled in the ways new parents manage their relationships, build (or resist building) new friendships and ad hoc support systems, and navigate the vulnerabilities of parenthood. We discuss how systems designed for new parents can better support the vulnerabilities they internalize, the diverse friendships they desire, and the logistical challenges they experience. We conclude with recommendations for future design and research in this area.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI'18)
    PublisherACM
    ISBN (Electronic)9781450356206
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 21 Apr 2018
    Event2018 ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
    Duration: 21 Apr 201826 Apr 2018
    https://chi2018.acm.org/

    Conference

    Conference2018 ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
    Abbreviated titleCHI 2018
    Country/TerritoryCanada
    CityMontréal
    Period21/04/1826/04/18
    Internet address

    Keywords

    • Parenthood
    • motherhood
    • fatherhood
    • new parents
    • vulnerability
    • implicit care
    • interpersonal relationships
    • social connection
    • care work

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