Exploring The Relationship between Social Media Usage and Sleep Quality in Postpartum Mothers with and without Depression: Mediating and Moderating Influences of Family Type and Age

Abstract

The postpartum period represents a vulnerable phase marked by profound biological, psychological, and social transitions. This study examines the complex relationship between social media usage (SMU) and sleep quality among postpartum mothers with and without postpartum depression (PPD), while exploring the mediating role of family type and moderating influence of maternal age. A comparative and correlational design was employed with a purposive sample of 100 postpartum mothers (50 with PPD and 50 without), aged 18–45 years. Standardized tools—the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Social Media Use Scale (SMUS)—were administered. Results revealed that mothers with PPD reported significantly higher image-based, comparison-based, belief-based, and consumption-based social media usage (p < 0.05) and poorer sleep quality across all PSQI components. Mediation analyses indicated that family type (nuclear vs. joint) partially mediated the relationship between social media use and sleep quality, whereas sleep quality mediated the link between social media use and PPD. Moderation effects showed that younger mothers (<25 years) and those from nuclear families experienced stronger adverse associations between social media engagement, poor sleep, and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that maladaptive social media use and inadequate sleep contribute synergistically to postpartum depressive states, influenced by family structure and age. The study underscores the need for integrative interventions targeting digital well-being, sleep hygiene, and social support to promote maternal mental health in the digital era.