Perhaps you have been criticized for watching too much sport on television instead of playing it.
Instead of exercising, watching athletes exercising increases the feeling of well-being.
Good for mental health, this activity, which can be done from your couch or in the stands of a stadium, also strengthens social interactions.
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Good in his body, good in his head
With the Paris Olympics approaching, sports fans no longer have to feel guilty. Of course, watching sporting events is often accompanied by bad behavior (sedentary lifestyle, consumption of alcohol and junk food, etc.), but watching athletes in full exercise contributes to well-being.
And besides, fans don’t hold back, according to the survey conducted by Statista Consumer Insights among 4,500 French sports fans. Between April 2023 and March 2024, 72% of them followed football on television, 39% rugby and 36% tennis. If you are one of those who never miss a live match, don’t give up this good habit.
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These sporting activities are strongly not recommended for pregnant women.
Why does watching sports give pleasure?
A Japanese study conducted in March 2024 by researchers from Waseda University explores the link between well-being and sports viewing. This multidisciplinary approach combines data analyzes on 20,000 Japanese residents, questionnaires on 208 participants and medical imaging techniques on fourteen able-bodied Japanese participants.
For Professor Shintaro Saton who led the study, the results leave no shadow of doubt. “For those looking to improve their overall well-being, regularly watching sports, particularly popular sports, can be an effective remedy,” he said in a statement.
But why do certain sports like football or baseball provide a feeling of fullness? The Japanese study shed light on the role of viewing on the brain. It activates the reward circuits, which explains the pleasure and happiness experienced during this activity.
Using medical imaging, researchers were able to see the impact of watching sports over the long term. People who are used to watching sports have a greater volume of gray matter in the regions of the brain associated with reward circuits. This leads to structural changes that benefit mental health.
Watching sports: a way to break your solitude?
Beyond the clichés of the supporter, a packet of chips or a beer in hand, watching sportsmen on television helps reduce the feeling of loneliness. A British study carried out in 2022 among 7,249 people showed the positive effects of viewing. Watching people play sports increases the feeling of general well-being in individuals, who then feel less alone. According to the researchers, this positive impact on mental health is explained by the increase in social interactions during sporting events and the feeling of belonging, by being a fan of a club, for example.
Another British study conducted in 2022 among 2,000 sports fans corroborates these results. Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the English sports company Better, it shows that supporting a team or a particular athlete does people good. 49% of respondents feel good about watching sporting events. For one in two people, it is a way to socialize with those around them. 35% use sport to belong to a community. Sport brings people together, but not only that. For a third of respondents, it is also an incentive to become more active.
