Gender differences between social support and quality of life among university athletes

This study aimed to explore gender-based differences in perceived social support (SS) and quality of life (QoL) among university athletes. The research involved 154 student-athletes from Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pahang, Malaysia, equally divided between male and female participants. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing the Social Support Questionnaire Short Form (SSQ) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q-SF) to assess the perceived social support and QoL of athletes. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate to high scores for both social support (M = 2.71) and QoL (M = 3.69), indicating a generally favorable perception of the psychosocial environment. Mann–Whitney U tests revealed significant gender differences, with male athletes reporting higher levels of social support (Mean Rank = 85.36) and QoL (Mean Rank = 86.65) compared to their female counterparts (social support Mean Rank = 69.64, QoL Mean Rank = 68.35). The findings suggest that males benefit from a broader network of support, while females exhibit higher satisfaction with their support systems. This research underscores the importance of understanding gender-specific dynamics in social support and QoL, offering insights for enhancing athletes’ overall wellbeing through targeted interventions that emphasize both the quantity and quality of support systems.