The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis

BackgroundSports specialty students in China face unique “dual stress” from academic demands and athletic training, intensified by cultural values and societal expectations. This stress contributes to elevated suicidal ideation, with limited understanding of how online social support (OSS) and psych...

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Main Authors: Hongyi Zhang, Yansong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1637943/full
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author Hongyi Zhang
Yansong Wang
author_facet Hongyi Zhang
Yansong Wang
author_sort Hongyi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSports specialty students in China face unique “dual stress” from academic demands and athletic training, intensified by cultural values and societal expectations. This stress contributes to elevated suicidal ideation, with limited understanding of how online social support (OSS) and psychological resilience mediate these relationships, particularly across genders.ObjectiveTo investigate the tripartite relationship among academic-training dual stress, OSS, and suicidal ideation, with psychological resilience as a mediator, and to analyze gender-specific differences.MethodsA sample of 1,460 sports specialty students (60% male, 40% female) completed surveys assessing stress, resilience, OSS, and suicidal ideation. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and gender-stratified regression analyses tested mediation and moderation effects.ResultsDual stress positively predicted suicidal ideation, partially mediated by reduced psychological resilience (β = −0.220*** for males, β = −0.180*** for females). OSS buffered this relationship, with stronger moderating effects for females via emotional support (β = −0.330***) and males via instrumental support (β = −0.370***). Gender differences emerged in stress exposure, resilience levels, and OSS preferences.ConclusionPsychological resilience and OSS play critical roles in mitigating the impact of dual stress on suicidal ideation, with gender-specific patterns. Tailored digital interventions leveraging OSS could enhance resilience and reduce suicide risk in this vulnerable group.
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spelling doaj-art-99daf3485300490caad2973b669afda92025-08-20T03:46:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-08-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16379431637943The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysisHongyi ZhangYansong WangBackgroundSports specialty students in China face unique “dual stress” from academic demands and athletic training, intensified by cultural values and societal expectations. This stress contributes to elevated suicidal ideation, with limited understanding of how online social support (OSS) and psychological resilience mediate these relationships, particularly across genders.ObjectiveTo investigate the tripartite relationship among academic-training dual stress, OSS, and suicidal ideation, with psychological resilience as a mediator, and to analyze gender-specific differences.MethodsA sample of 1,460 sports specialty students (60% male, 40% female) completed surveys assessing stress, resilience, OSS, and suicidal ideation. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and gender-stratified regression analyses tested mediation and moderation effects.ResultsDual stress positively predicted suicidal ideation, partially mediated by reduced psychological resilience (β = −0.220*** for males, β = −0.180*** for females). OSS buffered this relationship, with stronger moderating effects for females via emotional support (β = −0.330***) and males via instrumental support (β = −0.370***). Gender differences emerged in stress exposure, resilience levels, and OSS preferences.ConclusionPsychological resilience and OSS play critical roles in mitigating the impact of dual stress on suicidal ideation, with gender-specific patterns. Tailored digital interventions leveraging OSS could enhance resilience and reduce suicide risk in this vulnerable group.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1637943/fullacademic-training dual stressonline social supportpsychological resiliencesuicidal ideationgender differences
spellingShingle Hongyi Zhang
Yansong Wang
The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis
Frontiers in Psychology
academic-training dual stress
online social support
psychological resilience
suicidal ideation
gender differences
title The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis
title_full The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis
title_fullStr The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis
title_full_unstemmed The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis
title_short The impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic-training dual stress: a gender-specific analysis
title_sort impact of online social support on psychological resilience and suicidal ideation among sports specialty students under academic training dual stress a gender specific analysis
topic academic-training dual stress
online social support
psychological resilience
suicidal ideation
gender differences
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1637943/full
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