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SMARTPHONE USE AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIAL SUPPORT AND WELL-BEING IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Smartphone usage has a detrimental effect on various aspects of well-being, including depression, anxiety, the fear of missing out, loneliness, and overall quality of life among collegiate athletes. Moreover, it hinders the development of healthy and supportive relationships with teammates, coaches, family, and friends. This concern is heightened by the fact that collegiate athletes heavily depend on informal help-seeking and social support during periods of diminished well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between smartphone use, social support, and well-being in collegiate athletes. METHODS: Collegiate athletes were recruited, and their smartphone use was assessed via self-reported screen time and the Use of Social Media During Daily Activities Questionnaire. Social support was measured using the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire. Well-being was evaluated through the Student Well-Being Questionnaire. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationships between smartphone use, social support, and well-being. RESULTS: Participants (N = 14; 20.88 ± 2.26y; 86% F) demonstrated higher levels of social media using during daily activities and screen time had a small negative association with well-being (r = -0.204 and r = -0.198). Social media use during daily activities and perceived social support (r = -0.250) had a small negative association while screen time was a large negative association with social support (r = -0.537). Social support and well-being (r = 0.182) had a small positive association. CONCLUSION: The relationship between collegiate athletes and their smartphone usage reveals a significant negative impact on their social support and overall well-being. Specifically, increased screen time is strongly associated with decreased levels of social support among athletes. Conversely, higher levels of perceived social support correspond to improved well-being. These findings underscore the importance of investigating protective behavioral strategies for smartphone usage as potential solutions to mitigate the adverse consequences of excessive smartphone use.

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