#HealthyDads: “Fit Fathering” Discourse and Digital Health Promotion in Dad Blogs
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AbstractObjectiveThis study examines the thematic content and social‐health orientation of fathers' online blogs about parenting, health, and fitness.BackgroundSocial media provide avenues for parents to contribute to public discourse about parenthood and to offer guidance on health‐related matters. Concerns about familial well‐being have been central to parenting discourse for ages, but little is known about how parents write and talk about health online. This knowledge gap is addressed by examining fathers' writing about health and fitness in blogs.MethodA qualitative content analysis of 223 blog posts written by 40 fathers is presented. Blogs were analyzed for thematic patterns and categorized within a social health matrix of personal, interpersonal, community, and cultural health orientations.ResultsThe findings illustrate four dominant themes: “becoming fit for fatherhood,” “how to keep kids healthy,” “the pros and cons of youth sports,” and “public health awareness and promotion.” Collectively, dad blogs are constructing fit fathering discourse that extends ideals for involved fatherhood and healthy masculinities.ConclusionDad bloggers use social media for civic engagement and health promotion with the intent to spread awareness of men's health issues, refine fathering practices, and enhance familial well‐being. By mobilizing fit fathering discourse online and offline, they are creating a more nurturing culture of fatherhood and raising expectations for father involvement.
