Why watching sports can do us good – Featured

2024-04-22 14:40:36

22 avril 2024

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, a new study led by researchers at Waseda University in Japan suggests that watching sport might have beneficial effects on well-being and mental health.

Is watching sport, whether in a stadium or on television, good for our well-being? If various studies have already shown that “sitting” sport can be accompanied by harmful behaviors (alcohol consumption, junk food, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) and that during big matches, the heart rate of certain fans increases considerably, a new study published in the journal Sports Management Review brings another sound of bell.

Well-being and gray matter

Using a multidisciplinary approach combining data analysis, questionnaires and brain imaging techniques to explore the link between sports viewing and well-being, Japanese researchers observed that people who regularly watch sports tend to to have a higher level of well-being. At least, for popular sports like baseball or football, but not for golf. The study also found that watching sports activates the brain’s reward circuits, which explains the feelings of pleasure and happiness associated with this activity.

Another discovery concerns the impact of watching sports on brain structure. The authors found that people who regularly watch sports have greater gray matter volume in brain regions associated with reward circuits. This suggests that this viewing might induce structural changes in the brain that promote long-term well-being.

Don’t get too involved

So here’s some good news: sport might prove beneficial for both athletes and fans. So much so that Professor Shintaro Saton, main author of this work, believes that “ poFor those looking to improve their overall well-being, watching sports regularly, especially popular sports, can be an effective remedy. ».

Unfortunately, the study leaves some doors open. Notably the question of the implication of the feeling of sadness (or even depression) among certain fans whose favorite team has just suffered a defeat. Perhaps the important thing is not to get too involved as a spectator.

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