Risks of passive use of social network sites in youth athletes: a moderated mediation analysis

BackgroundWith the popularity of social media platforms, the use of social networks challenges the well-being and mental health of athletes.MotivationDespite ongoing scholarly discussions about the effects of passive use of social network sites, few studies have examined the relationship between the passive use of social network sites and mental health in young athletes from a social comparison perspective.HypothesisTo address this research gap, we draw on the social comparison and developmental systems theories to explore the mediating effect of upward social comparison on passive social network site use and mental health, as well as the moderating effects of positive psychological capital.MethodsWe analyzed data about 350 young athletes from professional Chinese sports universities.ResultsAs predicted, passive use of social network sites by young athletes increased anxiety (β = 0.26, p