The relationship between social support and mental health in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Social support is widely recognized as a key determinant of athletes' mental health; however, inconsistencies remain regarding the strength and source-specific effects of this relationship. This meta-analysis systematically quantifies the association between social support and mental health outcomes in athletes and examines variations by support source.

A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases to identify relevant studies. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect sizes expressed as correlation coefficients (r). Subgroup analyses compared the associations of family and friends' support versus team-based support with mental health indicators.

Forty studies encompassing 14,462 athletes were included. Overall social support correlated positively with well-being (r = 0.31) and negatively with anxiety (r = -0.22), depression (r = -0.27), and stress (r = -0.25). Notably, support from family and friends showed a significantly stronger negative association with depressive symptoms than team-based support.

In conclusion, social support plays a vital role in enhancing athletes' mental health, particularly through close interpersonal relationships. These findings underscore the importance of integrating diverse sources of social support in interventions aimed at improving psychological well-being in athletes.