December 18, 2020
By Joanna Steward, College of Arts and Sciences
Why and when students-athletes use social media, rather than how much, has a greater influence on their mental health, according to one of the first wide-scale surveys of social media engagement and well-being in college athletes.
“A user’s perception of their social media use and the importance it has in their daily life is particularly telling,” said Chris Barry, psychology professor and principal investigator for the project.
The study found student-athletes’ perception that social media might be interfering with their relationships, sleep, or academic success related to negative indicators of well-being, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.