From Stigma to Support: How Online Groups Empower Parents Rejecting Vaccination of Children
From Stigma to Support: How Online Groups Empower Parents Rejecting Vaccination of Children

Summary/Abstract: The following article explores how online communities support Slovak parents who refuse mandatory childhood vaccination. Because these parents are at odds with mainstream norms and laws, they experience social pressure, risk, and stigmatization, such as negative labeling. Furthermore, society often equates anti-vaccination beliefs with conspiracy theories – a label parents reject – even though studies show such theories have negative connotations. As a result, public discourse frequently conflates vaccine refusal with irrationality and anti-scientific attitudes, which increases marginalization for these parents. This study uses qualitative analysis of online group discussions. Specifically, it shows that digital communities help parents reduce offline social and normative pressures and maintain their beliefs in a challenging physical environment. Furthermore, these online groups provide parents with support and strategies that are often inaccessible in person; this support, in turn, enables them to cope with pressures, including those imposed by health authorities and government regulations. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that online community participation is crucial for parents who are coping with the risks and uncertainties of vaccine refusal in a predominantly pro-vaccination society.

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