The pervasive use of social networks has raised concerns about potential negative consequences, including addiction and dissatisfaction with basic psychological needs (BPNs). This study focuses on a university-age population, a group particularly susceptible to social media's influence. Previous research has highlighted the detrimental effects of excessive social media use on physical activity and mental well-being. However, some studies suggest a positive correlation between sports participation and healthy social media consumption. Therefore, this study investigates the interplay between social network use, sports practice (type and frequency), network addiction risk (measured by addiction symptoms, social use, geek traits, and nomophobia), and BPN satisfaction (competence, autonomy, and relatedness). This work aims to explore whether increased network usage and number of platforms correlate with addiction risk, whether the type of sport practiced influences addiction risk, how social media consumption affects BPNs, and finally, how different sports modalities impact BPN fulfillment. Previous research shows conflicting evidence concerning the relationships between social media usage, sports participation, and psychological well-being, making this study particularly timely and relevant.

Existing literature offers mixed findings on the relationship between social media use and sports participation. Some studies show that increased social media use reduces time spent on physical activities, while others suggest that social media can promote sports participation by raising awareness and providing information. Regarding addiction, higher network consumption is linked to an increased risk of addiction. Different aspects of social media use, including addiction symptoms, social use, geek traits, and nomophobia, contribute to this risk. The literature also shows that sports, particularly individual sports, can enhance self-control, a crucial factor in preventing addiction. Concerning BPNs, previous studies suggest that social media can fulfill competence, autonomy, and relatedness needs, but the impact of excessive use remains unclear. Conversely, sports participation positively contributes to BPN satisfaction, promoting competence through self-efficacy and mastery experiences, autonomy through choice and control over activities, and relatedness through teamwork and social interaction. The type of sport—individual versus collective—may also differentially affect BPN satisfaction.

This cross-sectional study involved 265 Spanish university students (Mage = 28.23; SD = 8.44; 110 men, 155 women) from 10 universities. Participants completed an ad hoc sociodemographic questionnaire, the Risk of Addiction-Adolescent to Social Networks and the Internet scale (ERA-RSI) to assess network addiction risk (with subscales for addiction symptoms, social use, geek traits, and nomophobia), and the Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S) to measure BPN satisfaction (competence, autonomy, and relatedness). The sociodemographic questionnaire collected data on age, gender, marital status, employment, social media use (time spent and number of platforms), and sports practice (frequency, type, and involvement in federations). Data analysis utilized SPSS 19. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and MANOVA tests were performed to examine the relationship between network consumption, number of networks used, sports practice, type of sport, and both addiction risk and BPN satisfaction. Eta2 was used to determine effect sizes, and post-hoc Tukey HSD tests were conducted for comparisons between groups with more than three options.

The MANOVA analysis revealed significant relationships between several variables. Higher daily social media consumption (more than 3 hours) significantly increased addiction symptoms, social use, geek traits, and nomophobia. Similarly, using three or more social networks correlated with increased addiction symptoms, social use, and geek traits. However, sports practice did not significantly affect overall addiction risk. Interestingly, participants engaging in collective sports showed significantly higher addiction symptoms compared to those involved in individual sports. Regarding BPNs, no significant relationship was found between social media usage (time spent or number of networks) and BPN satisfaction. However, sports practice did show a significant positive effect on BPN satisfaction. Specifically, students who did not practice sports showed significantly lower competence satisfaction, while those engaging in both individual and collective sports reported higher competence satisfaction. Post-hoc analyses confirmed these findings, highlighting the significant differences between groups based on social media consumption, number of networks, and type of sport practiced.

The findings confirm the link between extensive social media use and increased risk of addiction, aligning with previous research. The significant association between collective sports and higher addiction symptoms is intriguing and may warrant further investigation. The beneficial effect of sports participation on BPN satisfaction supports previous findings, highlighting sports as a valuable tool for promoting well-being. Notably, the lack of significant relationship between social media use and BPN satisfaction contradicts some previous research, suggesting that the impact of social media on well-being is complex and may depend on various factors not considered in this study. The positive influence of sports, especially individual sports, in mitigating addiction risk underscores the importance of integrating physical activity into daily routines.

This study demonstrates a clear link between excessive social media use and a higher risk of addiction, with the number of platforms used exacerbating the risk. While sports participation didn't significantly reduce overall addiction risk, individual sports were shown to have a protective effect. Additionally, sports, especially those involving a mixture of individual and team elements, enhanced BPN satisfaction, particularly competence. Future research should investigate mediating factors (e.g., parental influence, peer groups) and replicate the study with a larger, more diverse sample across different age groups and nationalities.

The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships. The reliance on self-report measures may introduce bias. The study's focus on Spanish university students limits the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Furthermore, the study did not consider other potential contextual variables that might influence social media use, sports participation, and psychological well-being.