"If it has an exclamation point, I step away from it, I need facts, not excited feelings": Technologically Mediated Parental COVID Uncertainty

Document detail

ID

oai:arXiv.org:2412.05181

Topic

Computer Science - Human-Computer ...

Author

Joy, Karen Liang, Michelle Ammari, Tawfiq

Year

2024

listing date

12/11/2024

Keywords

covid

Metrics

Abstract

As a novel virus, COVID introduced considerable uncertainty into the daily lives of people all over the globe since late 2019.

Relying on twenty-three semi-structured interviews with parents whose children contracted COVID, we analyzed how the use of social media moderated parental uncertainty about the symptoms, prognosis, long-term potential health ramifications of infection, vaccination, and other issues.

We framed our findings using Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness theory.

We propose new components to the theory that account for technological mediation in uncertainty.

We also propose design recommendations to help parents cope with health uncertainty using social media.

Joy, Karen,Liang, Michelle,Ammari, Tawfiq, 2024, "If it has an exclamation point, I step away from it, I need facts, not excited feelings": Technologically Mediated Parental COVID Uncertainty