Social Media, University Soccer, and Sports Psychology: Implications for Human Development

Abstract

University soccer players navigate a complex intersection of ecosystems: the academic, the athletic, and the digital. This study investigates how they utilize digital social media within this context. The primary objective of this work is to understand the purposes of usage and the resulting psychosocial impacts of this interaction. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, utilizing an exploratory sequential design (qual-quan). The qualitative phase employed semi-structured interviews with athletes, analyzed via Content Analysis, while the quantitative phase applied a questionnaire (QRSD) to 23 participants, with data subjected to Cluster Analysis. The results reveal the emergence of two distinct navigation profiles in the digital environment: the Engaged Creator, who uses platforms strategically for visibility and development, and the Reflective Consumer, who adopts a stance of cautious consumption and self-protection. The discussion, anchored in Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory of Human Development and the foundations of Sport Psychology, interprets these profiles as adaptive strategies to manage tensions between the multiple systems of influence in the athlete's life. It is concluded that social media use is a heterogeneous phenomenon and that there is a pressing need for personalized digital literacy programs. These programs should strengthen resilience and offer targeted support to each profile, maximizing developmental potential and minimizing psychosocial vulnerability in cyberspace.