Student Athletes, Social Media and Mental Health

Research Purpose

• Objective: To explore the impacts of social media on the mental health of student-athletes across NCAA divisions.

• Participants: Ninety-four student-athletes completed surveys on social media usage and mental health measures.

Key Findings

General Findings

• Social Media Impact: Overall social media usage did not significantly affect depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, stress, or self-esteem.

• Platform-Specific Findings:

  • Facebook: Negative correlation with self-esteem.

  • TikTok: Positive correlation with self-esteem.

  • Instagram and Snapchat: Negative correlation with anxiety and depression specifically in male participants.

• Qualitative Observations: Many student-athletes perceive social media as a tool for procrastination and escapism.

• Recommendations: Emphasize teaching healthy coping strategies for managing social media use.

Context of Social Media Evolution

• Technological Evolution: Social media has transformed from a computing tool into a daily accessible platform, significantly following advancements in cellular technology.

• Popular Platforms:

  • Facebook: Largest user base, connects friends and family.

  • YouTube and TikTok: Video sharing; user engagement through visual content.

  • Instagram: Focuses on photo sharing.

  • Twitter and Snapchat: For brief messaging and personal updates.

• Cultural Impact: Encourages direct interactions including criticism, termed "keyboard warrior" behavior.

Cyberbullying and Mental Health

• Cyberbullying Effects: Linked to heightened anxiety and depression; previous research indicates a significant number of college students have experienced it.

• Mental Health Statistics:

  • 66.4% of undergraduates report overwhelming anxiety.

  • 46.2% felt severely depressed.

  • High incidence of suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Unique Stressors for Student-Athletes

• Zoned in Stressors: Student-athletes face unique pressures like social isolation during game times, identity confusion due to athletic performance, and heightened scrutiny.

• Mental Health Issues: Increased rates of depression, anxiety, and more prevalent eating disorders among female athletes.

• Coping with Burnout: Student-athletes often experience burnout, and heavy emphasis on "mental toughness" may exacerbate mental health issues.

Research Methodology

Survey Approach

• Method: Used a survey methodology incorporating both open and closed-ended questions to collect uniform data across geographical locations.

• Participants:

  • Engaged NCAA institutions across divisions (D1, D2, D3).

  • 94 student-athletes completed the survey, yielding both qualitative and quantitative data.

Instruments Used

• Social Media Use Measurement:

  • Social Networking Sites Frequency Scale and Social Media Use Scale.

• Mental Health Assessments:

  • Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, among others.

Mental Health Descriptive Statistics

• General Observations:

  • Different mental health scales yielded varying average scores between males and females, indicating disparities in self-esteem and vitality.

  • Notable Findings: Females reported higher levels of perceived stress and lower self-esteem compared to males.

Correlations and Regression Analysis

• Correlations: Identified relationships between social media use and mental health measures, revealing both negative (e.g., Facebook's impact on self-esteem) and positive correlations (e.g., TikTok's impact).

• Regression Analysis: Highlighted differences in mental health impacts across demographics (e.g., Division II athletes showed significant positive effects on athletic identity).

Qualitative Insights

Positive Effects of Social Media

• Communication: Maintains connections with friends and coaches; aids recruitment.

• Stress Relief: Used as a distraction and temporary escape.

• Motivation: Offers access to performance-related resources and peer comparisons.

Negative Effects of Social Media

• Procrastination: Seen as a distraction from responsibilities.

• Loss of Sleep: Users reported disrupted sleep patterns due to prolonged use.

• Pressure to Perform: Increased feelings of vulnerability and comparison exhaustion.

Discussion and Conclusions

• Comparative Analysis: Highlights discrepancies with previous findings on social media's mental health impact, particularly regarding Facebook's usage among young demographics.

• Need for Tailored Training: Suggests specialized training for student-athletes focusing on healthy social media practices.

• Future Research Directions: Emphasis on larger sample sizes and the exploration of social media's impacts on underrepresented demographics, particularly in Division III.

• Call to Action: Advocates for psychological support systems to be established specifically for student-athletes.

Limitations

• Sample Size: Limited participant volume may skew the data; larger studies recommended.

• Broad Scope: Future research might focus on narrower, specific variables related to social media use and mental health.

References

• A detailed reference list comprises foundational studies, statistics, and articles related to the impact of social media on mental health and the context surrounding student-athletes.

Research Purpose

The objective of this research is to explore the impacts of social media on the mental health of student-athletes across various NCAA divisions. A total of ninety-four student-athletes participated in the study by completing surveys that assessed their social media usage alongside various mental health measures.

Key Findings

General Findings

The overall analysis indicates that general social media usage did not exhibit a significant effect on common mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, stress, or self-esteem. However, platform-specific findings revealed notable correlations. For instance, Facebook usage was found to have a negative correlation with self-esteem, while TikTok showed a positive correlation. Additionally, Instagram and Snapchat were linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression, particularly among male participants. Qualitative insights from student-athletes revealed that many perceive social media as a mechanism for procrastination and escapism, underscoring the importance of teaching healthy coping strategies to mitigate these trends.

Context of Social Media Evolution

The technological landscape of social media has evolved significantly, transforming from a basic computing tool to an omnipresent platform propelled by advancements in cellular technology. Among the most popular platforms, Facebook retains the largest user base by facilitating connections among friends and family. YouTube and TikTok emphasize video sharing with enhanced user engagement through visually driven content, while Instagram centers on photo-sharing experiences. Twitter and Snapchat cater to brief messaging needs, allowing for personal updates. The cultural ramifications of this evolution manifest in direct, albeit sometimes critical interactions, commonly referred to as "keyboard warrior" behavior.

Cyberbullying and Mental Health

The phenomenon of cyberbullying has been detrimental, with connections observed between it and heightened states of anxiety and depression. Previous research indicates that a significant percentage of college students report experiences with cyberbullying. Alarmingly, statistics reveal that 66.4% of undergraduates report overwhelming anxiety, while 46.2% have experienced severe depression, with many contemplating suicidal thoughts or actions.

Unique Stressors for Student-Athletes

Student-athletes encounter unique challenges that can exacerbate mental health issues, as they face pressures such as social isolation during competitive events, identity confusion linked to their athletic performances, and increased scrutiny. Studies indicate heightened rates of anxiety, depression, and a disproportionately higher incidence of eating disorders among female athletes. Additionally, the pursuit of "mental toughness" is often emphasized in athletic culture, which may further aggravate mental health challenges, leading to experiences of burnout.

Research Methodology

The research methodology involved administering a survey that incorporated both open-ended and closed-ended questions, allowing for uniform data collection across various geographical locations. The study engaged NCAA institutions across Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3, with 94 student-athletes participating and providing both qualitative and quantitative data. The instruments used included the Social Networking Sites Frequency Scale and the Social Media Use Scale for measuring social media usage, alongside mental health assessments utilizing the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, among others.

Mental Health Descriptive Statistics

Observations indicated significant variations in mental health metrics based on gender. Different mental health scales revealed disparities in average scores between male and female student-athletes, with females reporting higher stress levels and lower self-esteem in comparison to their male counterparts.

Correlations and Regression Analysis

The study identified multiple correlations between social media use and mental health outcomes, showcasing both negative correlations, such as the adverse effects of Facebook on self-esteem, and positive correlations, as seen with TikTok's impact. Regression analysis provided further insights into differences in mental health outcomes across demographics, revealing that Division II athletes demonstrated significant positive effects on their athletic identity.

Qualitative Insights

Participants reported both positive and negative effects stemming from their social media usage. On one hand, social media serves as a vital communication tool, helping maintain connections with friends and coaches and aiding in recruitment processes. It also provides stress relief and acts as a diversion from academic and athletic pressures. On the downside, social media is seen as a source of procrastination, causing disrupted sleep patterns, and elevating feelings of performance pressure through constant comparisons to peers.

Discussion and Conclusions

The results of this research underscore the discrepancies with prior studies regarding the impact of social media on mental health, particularly in relation to Facebook usage among young individuals. There exists a clear need for tailored training programs designed for student-athletes that focus on promoting healthy social media practices. Future research is encouraged to involve larger sample sizes and to examine the effects of social media on underrepresented demographics, especially within Division III institutions. To address the mental health needs of student-athletes, the establishment of dedicated psychological support systems is advocated.

Limitations

While informative, this research faced limitations, primarily regarding sample size, which may skew findings. It is recommended that future studies concentrate on more narrowly defined variables related to social media use and mental health, thereby enhancing understanding of these complex interactions.

References

A detailed reference list is available, comprising foundational studies, statistics, and articles pertaining to the effects of social media on mental health and the specific context concerning student-athletes.

Best Tips for Athletes When Posting to Social Media

1. Be Authentic: Share your true self and experiences, as authenticity resonates well with followers.

2. Maintain Professionalism: Think before you post; ensure that your content reflects well on you and your team.

3. Engage Positively: Interact with fans, respond to messages, and create a supportive community.

4. Set Boundaries: Limit the amount of personal information you share to protect your privacy.

5. Use Social Media Wisely: Consider the impact of your posts on your mental health; avoid comparisons that may lead to anxiety or stress.

6. Promote Positivity: Share motivational content and celebrate both personal and team achievements.

7. Be Mindful of Timing: Post at times when your audience is most active to maximize engagement.

8. Engage with Constructive Feedback: Accept criticism gracefully and use it as an opportunity for growth.