The rise of 'Pinterest stress': How image-sharing site's 'perfect' photos of cakes and crafts make mothers feel inadequate

PUBLISHED: 14:09 EST, 9 May 2013 | UPDATED: 14:09 EST, 9 May 2013

The 'perfect' photos of baked goods, interiors and crafts on Pinterest make many mothers feel inadequate, new research has found.

In a survey of 7,000 moms, conducted by Today, 42per cent said that surfing the photo-sharing site made them feel depressed about the fact that their own lives did not reflect the same picture-perfect standards.

And three in four said that the pressure they felt from browsing Pinterest was worse than any judgement they might experience from other moms.

Trying to be perfect: 42per cent of mothers say that surfing Pinterest makes them feel stressed and depressed that their own lives do not reflect the same impossible standards

Indeed, the average participant in the survey said that the stress they experienced from browsing Pinterest would be ranked at around 8.5 on a scale of one-to-ten.

Many admitted staying up until the early hours of the morning scanning the site for ideas and later feeling crushed when their own attempts at recreating 'domestic bliss' failed.

Jenna Andersen, 28, a mother-of-two from Palo Alto, California, admits that she suffers from 'Pinterest stress'.

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'It's largely a site of unrealized dreams . . . It tricks you into thinking that everyone is baking their own bread,' she explains.

'It’s so easy to get depressed. You start to feel like your entire life has to be like a magazine all the time.'

In a bid to make other parents feel better she launched the site Pinterest Fail, which chronicles hilarious Pinterest-inspired DIY and culinary endeavors gone wrong.

'It's largely a site of unrealized dreams. It tricks you into thinking that everyone is baking their own bread'

Glennon Doyle Melton, 37, an author and mother-of-three from Naples, Florida, agrees that Pinterest puts unwarranted pressure on people.

'Being a parent is so physically and emotionally and mentally exhausting. To add 17 layers of perfection and cutesiness?,' she says.

But Pinterest - which has over 48million users - does still have plenty of fans. A large proportion of mothers say the social networking site allows them to feel connected, give them inspiration and boost their mood.

Kim Parcher, a stay-at-home, mom-of-two, who runs the blog momamusings, wrote of Pintertest: 'Personally I find [it] completely inspirational.

Under pressure: In a survey of 7,000 moms, 42per cent said that it flicking through 'perfect' pictures of home interiors, baked goods or arts and crafts made them feel inadequate

'It has allowed me to discover things I would have never thought of before on my own, and has allowed my creativity to soar to depths I never thought possible.'

She says that her secret to staying upbeat is to avoid looking at things that are 'completely unattainable.'

'It has allowed me to discover things I would have never thought of before on my own, and has allowed my creativity to soar'

'What is the point of pinning an indoor hot tub to my ‘Dream House’ board when I know my bank account balance will never let that happen?'

Dena Fleno, 33, also a Pinterest fan, says that mothers shouldn't quit the site but should cut back their usage.

The working mom based in New Britain, Connecticut, recalled: 'As I poured over oodles of pins one night, feeling slightly inadequate, I started to realize that, while I may think of myself as Martha Stewart on occasion, my kids don’t want or need her.'

She has now stopped pinning and only looks at the site for special-occasion inspiration.

'I feel so much better,' she exclaimed.

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FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!!!!

- kitty kat , guadalahabra, 10/5/2013 00:15

Click to rate Rating 5

Seriously? Well today, I baked 2 quiches and 2 cheese and onion pies and I would no more load photos of them on such a site as take them into the street for passing strangers to admire. Honestly, just bake and enjoy it! Who cares if the pastry is crinkled a bit as long as it TASTES good. And my efforts today did. I have no stress. Catch yourselves on and stop being so daft! Jesus wept!

- Sarah , Durham, United Kingdom, 09/5/2013 23:52

Click to rate Rating 5

So we shouldn't show nice things because someone would feel bad that they couldn't replicate it? Boo f-ing hoo. Get over yourselves. The only stress is what you bring on yourself if this is what you're worried about.

- anglophile7 , rego park, ny, us, 09/5/2013 23:38

Click to rate Rating 9

I don't understand why people get all up in arms over Pintrest. It's an online bulletin board. I don't see how it can make you feel inadequate because you just simply re-pin the things that YOU like. I think Face Book is much more destructive when it comes to showing off.

- Mimi , Maryland, 09/5/2013 23:34

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Most pictures are now posted by corporations trying to sell something. When will women start learning to love themselves instead of comparing themselves to impossible standards?!

- ElizaDevere , Los Angeles, Ca, 09/5/2013 23:22

Click to rate Rating 6

It's all a illusion anyway.

- Illbjammin , Pasadena ca., United States, 09/5/2013 23:15

Click to rate Rating 3

Lol

- mo , chi, 09/5/2013 22:54

Click to rate Rating 2

There's a reason they're called the weaker sex...A man would find this risible...and it is.

- Resident , somewhere in America, 09/5/2013 22:51

Click to rate Rating 9

i love pinterest but yes thiose pictures there the are so good

- bellavendome , london, United Kingdom, 09/5/2013 22:38

Click to rate Rating 5

Ha! I'm in the middle of a Pinterest-inspired craft right now! People need to relax and just enjoy the site. It's a collection of info and ideas and just plain fun stuff. No need to get stressed out about it!

- Disenchanted , Southeastern US, 09/5/2013 22:30

Click to rate Rating 22

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