Experts claim that watching sports builds 'social identity' and improves well-being
Some sports fans who are passionate about supporting a particular team or player may feel that the disappointment of losing is greater than the joy of winning, and may think that 'in the end, the stress builds up and it's bad for your health.' However, psychologists at
Watching sports is good for you – thanks to its social bonding effects
https://theconversation.com/watching-sports-is-good-for-you-thanks-to-its-social-bonding-effects-231781
Well-being is a psychological state that describes how happy a person feels. Research shows that people with higher well-being tend to be healthier and live longer than those with lower well-being, so improving people's well-being has public health benefits.
A 2022 study conducted by a team of researchers from Anglia Ruskin University used data from the UK government's Taking Part Survey , a national survey. The data included responses from 7,209 people living in the UK, aged between 16 and 85.
The analysis showed that people who attended live sporting events in the previous year were more satisfied with their lives, felt their lives were worth living, and were less lonely than those who did not. These findings are consistent with other research showing that people who watch sporting events at least once a year have less depressive symptoms than those who do not. Furthermore, the improvement in well-being from watching sporting events is not limited to those who watch live events; people who watch sporting events on TV or PC also have less depressive symptoms than those who do not.
A research team from Waseda University and other institutions has also reported research results showing that watching sports is positively correlated with improved well-being, both when watching live at a stadium or arena and on television or the internet. This study also used brain imaging analysis, and found that people who watch a lot of sports have a larger reward system related to well-being, and that watching popular sports activates the reward system more strongly than watching minor sports.
These findings are correlational, so it's not possible to determine whether sports viewing or well-being influences the other, or whether other factors such as financial means or number of friends play a role, but various theories and brain imaging studies suggest that watching sports in itself can improve well-being.
'The positive effects of watching sport are likely related to
People seek to form communities mediated by something in common that allow them to connect with one another, form part of their identity, and provide social and emotional support. This is called social identity.
In other words, people who support the same sports team or player form a community, which leads to the establishment of a social identity. A 2017 study showed that people who strongly identify with a sports team are more likely to feel 'emotionally supported by fellow fans,' which in turn increases life satisfaction.
The psychologists from Anglia Ruskin University said: 'This means that the social benefits of watching sport are not limited to attending live matches with friends and family. Whether we watch sport in person or from the comfort of our own homes, we can enjoy the sense of community that our favourite athletes provide, as well as reaping the psychological benefits.'
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in Science, Posted by log1h_ik