Differences in Stress and Loneliness Among Undergraduates: Examining the Influence of Athletic Status and Social Networks

Leaving and living away from home during undergraduate study, often for the first time, pushes teens and young adults to find new peer networks – such as through organizations or sports teams – that are essential for support and fulfillment during this major transitional period. Through practices, team-building events, and competition, sport shapes peer networks and informs the undergraduate experience for many students. Athletics may provide the scaffolding needed for social connection but could also come with new pressures and unique demands. While previous research often focuses primarily on varsity athletes, less is known about how different levels of athletic participation, including club sports, intramural sports, and non-athletes, relate to students’ social networks and well-being. This study explores how involvement in athletics relates to the strength of students’ social networks and their experiences of stress and loneliness by drawing on survey responses from undergraduates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The findings suggest that athletic organizations often serve as a key site of social integration, indicating that it may protect against negative outcomes of stress and loneliness. These patterns highlight the role that group membership and peer networks play in undergraduate life. By examining multiple levels of athletic participation, this study contributes to a broader understanding of how structured extracurriculars shape students’ social experiences and well-being during the college years. Key Words: athletics, peer networks, social integration, loneliness, stress, undergraduate students, extracurricular activities, group membership