Social Media and Youth Athletes

How does digital media impact the mental health of adolescent athletes? Our study of 591 German athletes (aged 12-19, across 42 sports) found that longer social media use was linked to increased negative affect and dysfunctional eating—with social comparison and sleep quality acting as key mediators.

Notably, elite and competitive athletes were more vulnerable to the negative effects of excessive media use on sleep. While higher performance levels increased social comparison, they did not directly impact sleep, mood, or eating behaviors.

These findings highlight the importance of digital media awareness in athlete well-being. Future interventions should focus on reducing harmful social comparisons and improving sleep quality to support mental health.

#SportsPsychology #AthleteWellness #MentalHealth #DigitalMedia #AdolescentAthletes

Full Article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37665874/