Idealized Motherhood and Maternal Anxiety

Visually dense social media platforms have reshaped how motherhood is portrayed. Idealized maternal depictions on platforms like Instagram contribute to heightened social expectations, impacting the well-being of working mothers. Nearly 74% of American mothers are in the workforce, and curated portrayals of motherhood online intensify the pressure to balance professional and family responsibilities. This study explored the impacts of idealized portrayals of motherhood online on maternal well-being. A 2 × 2 within-subjects factorial design examined how idealized portrayals and content sources influence maternal self-perception and well-being. Participants (n = 70), full-time working mothers with children three or younger, viewed 16 Instagram posts depicting motherhood before completing measures of perceived similarity, state anxiety (STAI-6), and unfavorable social comparisons. Self-esteem, employment guilt, and social media use were also assessed. Idealized portrayals significantly increased state anxiety and reduced perceived similarity. Effects were most pronounced when the source was a mommy influencer. Everyday mothers elicited stronger negative comparisons than influencers, especially with non-idealized portrayals. Maternal employment guilt and lower self-esteem amplified adverse responses, indicating risk-enriched subgroups. Exposure to idealized portrayals of motherhood, especially from online influencers, can acutely raise anxiety among working mothers. Guilt about employment further heightens maternal vulnerability.