Abstract

Background: The psychological well-being and mental health of university undergraduates are essential to their academic performance and personal development. Social media addiction (SMA) has emerged as a significant concern among students, with evidence linking SMA to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS). This study focuses on understanding the prevalence of SMA and its association with mental health disorders among female undergraduate varsity student-athletes and non-athlete students.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and impact of SMA on mental health disorders among female undergraduate varsity student-athletes and non-athlete students.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, with 199 female undergraduates (aged 18–26) randomly selected from five institutions in Lahore, Pakistan. The sample comprised 99 student-athletes (M = 21.24, SD = 1.92) and 100 non-athletes (M = 21.96, SD = 1.68). Data collection tools included the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-10 (DASS-10), and a demographic questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using independent samples t-tests and regression analyses.
Results: The independent samples t-test revealed significantly higher SMA levels in non-athletes (M = 17.44, SD = 4.244) than athletes (M = 16.11, SD = 4.025), t(197) = -2.264, p = .025. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores were also higher among non-athletes (M = 11.71, SD = 4.255) compared to athletes (M = 9.82, SD = 3.950), t(197) = -3.262, p = .001. Regression analysis showed a positive association between SMA and depressive symptoms (β = .360, p < .05), accounting for 12.9% of the variance (R² = .129). Screen time additionally correlated with depression (β = .173, p < .05), explaining 3% of its variance (R² = .030).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that female varsity athletes experience lower levels of SMA and mental health disorders than non-athletes, underscoring the potential benefits of sports participation in mitigating SMA and improving mental health outcomes among university students.