Educational issues, Vol. 6 No. 2, 2023.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53577/oot.6.2.4
Pseudoscience in the context of contemporary parenting: A qualitative content analysis of forums with the topic of childhood vaccination
Ivana Marić
; Učiteljski fakultet u Rijeci
Željka Ivković Hodžić
orcid.org/0000-0002-9393-9433
; Učiteljski fakultet u Rijeci
Željko Boneta
; Učiteljski fakultet u RIjeci
Abstract
The paper deals with anti-vaccination pseudoscientific content on forums in the Croatian language with the topic of childhood vaccination. The goal of the research was to analyse the characteristics of pseudoscientific content on forums, group dynamics among forum participants and parenting. A qualitative content analysis was conducted in the period from June 15 to August 19, 2019, on the missMAMA, roda.hr, Parents.hr and forum.hr forums, and a total of 9,205 comments were analysed. The results of the research showed that the main features of the forum were pseudoscientific reasons for refusal or hesitance regarding vaccination of children, the prominence of the affective dimension of group interactions, gender differences in the approach to the topic of vaccination of children and parenthood as the ultimate argument for (not) vaccinating children. The analysis showed that the pseudoscientific reasons for refusal or hesitance regarding vaccination of children are encroachment on personal human rights, the perception of vaccination as unnatural, distrust in the pharmaceutical industry, experts, and regulatory bodies, anecdotal examples of the consequences of vaccination, harmlessness of the disease, and personal testimonies and famous persons as specific sources of information. It was found that the affective dimension of discussions on forums was their key feature, whether in relation to interactions in which conflicts or group support and empathy prevailed. In forums, there are gender differences in participation and discussion practices. While women primarily participate in the forums with the aim of finding or providing support during their child’s vaccination process, men’s participation is primarily focused on discussing pseudoscientific theories about child vaccination. Parenthood has proven to be an overarching framework within which all discussions take place, and the individualisation of social responsibility, the norm of intensive parenting, and the ideology of naturalism shape parental attitudes, feelings, and practices regarding child vaccination.
Keywords
vaccination of children; intensive parenting; Internet forums; individualisation of social responsibility; pseudoscience
Hrčak ID:
312086
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2023.
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