Socializing in the Digital Era: Examining How Social Activities Influence Momentary Emotions in Mothers of Infants

The transition to parenthood is a period of heightened emotion; while deeply rewarding, it is also a stressful time, marked by an increased risk of mental health problems. Socializing is vital for parents’ mental health and may buffer these risks. However, little is known about how different forms of socializing relate to parents’ emotional well-being, or how individual differences in internalizing symptoms (depression and anxiety) may modify these associations. The present study examined real-time associations between social activities and mothers’ momentary affect, with a focus on comparing in-person socializing, virtual socializing (e.g., FaceTime, phone calls, instant messaging, text, or email), and social media use (e.g., browsing or posting on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok). Two hundred and fifty mothers (Mean age = 33.2 years, range = 19–45, 51.5