Strava use in competitive female runners: A qualitative exploration of perceived utility and psychosocial...

Strava combines social media connectivity with the utility of fitness tracking, fostering a community of over 150 million users. While social media and fitness apps influence athletes' psychosocial wellbeing, research on Strava's impact, especially among competitive female runners, is scarce. Existing literature suggests women may experience both positive and negative psychosocial effects from fitness tracking and social media use; however, these effects have not been examined within the unique context of Strava. The purpose of the study was to explore the utility of Strava and its perceived psychosocial implications in competitive female runners. Nineteen competitive female runners completed semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Findings indicated that Strava contributed to participants' identities as runners. The platform's public nature-where users can view others' training and performances while sharing their own-was central to their experiences. Participants also described intentionally curating their posts to influence how they were perceived by others. These findings highlight important implications for coaches and mental performance consultants, emphasizing the need to understand athletes' relationship with Strava. Such understanding may support athletes in critically evaluating the role of the app in their training goals and overall wellbeing.