The Relationship Between Social Media Leadership and Positive Self-Perception: A Study of Sports Managers

This study aimed to examine the relationship between social media leadership and positive self-perception among sports administrators in Türkiye, and to evaluate the predictive role of positive self-perception on social media leadership within sociodemographic variables. The study was designed according to the correlational survey model. The sample consisted of 206 sports administrators working in sports clubs, federations, government institutions, and private sports facilities who participated voluntarily. Data were collected using the Oxford Positive Self-Perception Scale Short Form and the Social Media Leadership Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression analysis were used. The findings revealed a low but statistically significant positive relationship between sports administrators’ positive self-perception and social media leadership levels (r = 0.248, p < 0.01). Demographic analyses showed that positive self-perception did not differ significantly by age, but varied significantly according to gender, educational level, and time spent on social media. Female participants had higher positive self-perception and social media leadership scores than men. Social media leadership scores increased significantly as educational level and time spent on social media increased. Regarding age, sports administrators aged 26–30 and over 30 had higher social media leadership scores than those aged 20–25. In conclusion, positive self-perception appears to be an important individual resource supporting social media leadership among sports administrators; however, social media leadership has a multidimensional structure that cannot be explained solely by this resource. The findings emphasize the importance of interventions addressing education, digital experience, and psychosocial resources.

Cite this article as: Horozoğlu, M. A. (2026). The relationship between social media leadership and positive self-perception: a study of sports managers. Research in Sports Science, 16, 0017, doi: 10.5152/rss.2026.26017.