Olahraga, Kesehatan Mental, dan Masyarakat Digital: Tinjauan Literatur Sistematis Tentang Tantangan yang Muncul pada Atlet Generasi Z

Abstract

The transformation of digital society has reshaped the modern sports ecosystem through the increasing exposure to social media, the culture of digital visibility, and continuous public evaluation of athletes. This condition has generated new psychosocial challenges for Generation Z athletes, including social comparison, digital performance pressure, psychological burnout, and dependency on public validation. This study aimed to analyse and synthesise the dynamics of Generation Z athletes’ mental health within the context of digital society through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. The study employed PRISMA guidelines by searching articles from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases published between 2019 and 2026. A total of 30 selected articles were analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. The findings revealed that social media has evolved from merely a communication platform into a system of digital performance surveillance that shapes athletes’ identities, intensifies visibility pressure, and produces real-time social evaluation. The study further demonstrated that athletes’ mental health is constructed through the dynamic interaction between digital exposure, individual psychological processes, and social support within the sporting environment. This research offers a conceptual synthesis regarding continuous visibility pressure in modern sport and recommends strengthening digital literacy, regulating social media exposure, and developing more adaptive athlete digital wellbeing policies within contemporary sports systems.