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Beyond Morning Sickness- Exploring a Hyperemesis Gravidarum Support Group on Facebook

Sjöstedt, Thea LU (2024) MKVM13 20241
Media and Communication Studies
Department of Communication and Media
Abstract
The experience of illness can often result in isolation, leaving individuals with a difficult decision to make—to disconnect from their everyday lives or to seek out alternative connections. In our modern society, people often strongly desire to connect with voices they can relate to. This study focuses on the role of Facebook in providing support to women suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness during pregnancy.
Using existential media and new materialism approaches, the study analyses the
Hyperemesis Gravidarum Sverige (HGS) Facebook community in Sweden. It examines how members form a sense of community despite physical distance. With a multi-method approach, including digital ethnography,... (More)
The experience of illness can often result in isolation, leaving individuals with a difficult decision to make—to disconnect from their everyday lives or to seek out alternative connections. In our modern society, people often strongly desire to connect with voices they can relate to. This study focuses on the role of Facebook in providing support to women suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness during pregnancy.
Using existential media and new materialism approaches, the study analyses the
Hyperemesis Gravidarum Sverige (HGS) Facebook community in Sweden. It examines how members form a sense of community despite physical distance. With a multi-method approach, including digital ethnography, qualitative interviews and participative observation, this thesis highlights the challenges women with HG face and the role of social media in coping with the rare condition. The interviews were conducted with six participants selected based on the criteria of being members of the HGS Facebook group located in Skåne County and either diagnosed or self-diagnosed with HG. Transcripts and field notes served as the material for thematic inductive analysis. Concretely, this thesis explores how technology can constitute a caring media grounded in the members' engagement, shared identities, and purpose.
The findings demonstrate how social media can be a valuable resource for women
suffering from HG, allowing them to connect with others, share their experiences and manage the condition with a greater sense of community and empathy. They also show how women derive meaning from the shared emotional connection of the group and that there is a sense of civic identity motivating members to continue to provide support. Furthermore, the findings indicate that Facebook contributes to providing the members with a safe space to explore existential questions and dilemmas, seek advice and support, and, in the process, reclaim a sense of agency. As such, this thesis argues that in vulnerable situations, media can help
individuals maintain their sense of self and act as a literal lifeline. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sjöstedt, Thea LU
supervisor
organization
course
MKVM13 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Hyperemesis Gravidarum, pregnancy, Facebook, health support group, social media, existential media studies, new materialist feminism, Sense of community, women’s health
language
English
id
9151582
date added to LUP
2024-06-12 08:27:59
date last changed
2024-06-12 08:27:59
@misc{9151582,
  abstract     = {{The experience of illness can often result in isolation, leaving individuals with a difficult decision to make—to disconnect from their everyday lives or to seek out alternative connections. In our modern society, people often strongly desire to connect with voices they can relate to. This study focuses on the role of Facebook in providing support to women suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness during pregnancy.
Using existential media and new materialism approaches, the study analyses the
Hyperemesis Gravidarum Sverige (HGS) Facebook community in Sweden. It examines how members form a sense of community despite physical distance. With a multi-method approach, including digital ethnography, qualitative interviews and participative observation, this thesis highlights the challenges women with HG face and the role of social media in coping with the rare condition. The interviews were conducted with six participants selected based on the criteria of being members of the HGS Facebook group located in Skåne County and either diagnosed or self-diagnosed with HG. Transcripts and field notes served as the material for thematic inductive analysis. Concretely, this thesis explores how technology can constitute a caring media grounded in the members' engagement, shared identities, and purpose.
The findings demonstrate how social media can be a valuable resource for women
suffering from HG, allowing them to connect with others, share their experiences and manage the condition with a greater sense of community and empathy. They also show how women derive meaning from the shared emotional connection of the group and that there is a sense of civic identity motivating members to continue to provide support. Furthermore, the findings indicate that Facebook contributes to providing the members with a safe space to explore existential questions and dilemmas, seek advice and support, and, in the process, reclaim a sense of agency. As such, this thesis argues that in vulnerable situations, media can help
individuals maintain their sense of self and act as a literal lifeline.}},
  author       = {{Sjöstedt, Thea}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Beyond Morning Sickness- Exploring a Hyperemesis Gravidarum Support Group on Facebook}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}