{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T11:52:50Z","timestamp":1781869970696,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781827200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Social media use has become highly prevalent among young athletes. While social media platforms can promote social connection and support, they may also contribute to stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, body image concerns and online abuse. However, limited research has specifically explored these effects in athletic populations. This study aimed to assess the influence of social media on young athletes\u2019 mental health and to examine whether age, sex, sport type, competitive level and platform used affected these perceptions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 912 athletes aged 12\u201324 years. The questionnaire explored social media exposure, perceived impact on wellbeing and performance, self-regulation strategies and experiences of online abuse. Associations between athlete characteristics and reported outcomes were analysed using multivariable logistic regression models.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Daily use of at least one platform was reported by 93.4% of athletes, and 63.6% indicated that social media interfered with training or recovery. Perceived effects were ambivalent: 57.1% reported receiving encouragement or sport-related support online, whereas 47.7% reported negative effects on sleep quality and 25.4% reported stress or anxiety related to social media use. Pressure to maintain an online image was reported by 29.2% of athletes and was more frequent among females and older athletes. Greater exposure time was associated with stronger negative effects on sleep, mood, self-image and feelings of isolation. Online abuse was reported by 10.4% of athletes, although only a minority sought support.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Social media plays a dual role in young athletes\u2019 lives, providing opportunities for connection and support while also exposing them to psychological vulnerabilities and digital pressures. These findings highlight the importance of targeted education, safeguarding strategies and monitoring of digital habits, as usage volume appears to be a key determinant of impact.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1811861","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]],"date-time":"2026-06-19T11:19:57Z","timestamp":1781867997000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The influence of social media on young athletes\u2019 mental health: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Camille","family":"Tooth","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"ReFORM IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Traumatology, SportS\u00b2, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, FIMS Collaborative Centre of Sports Medicine, CHU de Liege","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]},{"name":"Luxembourg Institute of Research in Orthopedics Sports Medicine and Science (LIROMS)","place":["Luxembourg, Luxembourg"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jean-Fran\u00e7ois","family":"Kaux","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ReFORM IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Traumatology, SportS\u00b2, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, FIMS Collaborative Centre of Sports Medicine, CHU de Liege","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]},{"name":"Department of Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Sciences, Universite de Liege","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Philippe","family":"Tscholl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ReFORM IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]},{"name":"Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Geneva University Hospitals","place":["Geneva, Switzerland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alioune","family":"Tour\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Service national de l\u2019\u00e9ducation inclusive au MENJE","place":["Luxembourg, Luxembourg"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Frank","family":"Muller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"SportLyc\u00e9e","place":["Luxembourg, Luxembourg"]},{"name":"Luxembourg Institute for High Performance in Sports (LIHPS)","place":["Luxembourg, Luxembourg"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katy","family":"Seil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ReFORM IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health","place":["Li\u00e8ge, Belgium"]},{"name":"Luxembourg Institute of Research in Orthopedics Sports Medicine and Science (LIROMS)","place":["Luxembourg, Luxembourg"]},{"name":"Luxembourg Institute for High Performance in Sports (LIHPS)","place":["Luxembourg, Luxembourg"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101414","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smrv.2020.101414","article-title":"Interplay between social media use, sleep quality, and mental health in youth: a systematic review","volume":"56","author":"Alonzo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sleep Med. 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