CSUF professor and grad student examine how sports, mental health and social media interact

A Cal State Fullerton professor and graduate student have published research examining the complex intersection of sports participation, mental health outcomes, and social media engagement among college athletes. The study surveyed over 400 student-athletes across multiple NCAA divisions, finding that the relationship between these factors is more complicated than commonly assumed.

The research found that athletes who actively used social media to share their training and competition experiences reported higher levels of social support and community belonging. However, those who primarily consumed content — comparing themselves to other athletes' highlight reels — showed significantly higher rates of anxiety and body image concerns. The distinction between active creation and passive consumption proved to be the critical factor.

The study also revealed that team sport athletes were more resilient to negative social media effects than individual sport athletes. Athletes in sports like swimming, track, and gymnastics — where performance is quantified and directly comparable — were three times more likely to report social media-related anxiety than those in sports like football or basketball, where team dynamics provide a buffer.

What This Means For You: If you're a student-athlete or a parent of one, the research suggests a practical rule: use social media to share your journey, not to measure yourself against others. Creating content builds community; comparing content builds anxiety. For coaches and athletic departments, the findings argue for social media literacy programs alongside traditional sports psychology support.