Sports journalism and its psychological effects shaping a new trend of sports culture: A systematic review

Abstract

This study examines how changing media trends ranging from print journalism to digital, social and AI-integrated media have influenced athlete performance, public engagement, and the perception of sports psychology. A systematic literature review of 82 scholarly articles from 1900-2024 has been taken and a comprehensive search was carried out in scholarly databases such as Google Scholar, historical archives, books, and media reports were conducted. A thematic analysis was applied to evaluate how these trends have shaped the mental resilience of athletes, fan psychology, national sports identity, and media bias towards certain sports. Sports journalism has significantly influenced public emotions, athlete motivation, and national pride, particularly during Olympics, World Cups, and major sporting events. The psychological impact of media includes increased fan engagement, motivation for young athletes, but also performance pressure and online trolling. Sports journalism has played a dual role in shaping worldwide sports culture inspiring national pride and athlete development while also contributing to performance pressure and media sensationalism.