Watching sports, beyond mere entertainment, fosters community and belonging, benefiting both individual wellbeing and societal health. Recognizing a gap in research, a team led by Prof. Shintaro Sato conducted a comprehensive study, blending data analysis, self-reports, and neuroimaging to explore the connection between sports viewing and wellbeing. While initial findings confirmed the positive impact of sports consumption on reported wellbeing, deeper insights were sought through subsequent studies. These studies revealed that watching sports like baseball induce greater wellbeing effects compared to less popular ones. Additionally, neuroimaging showed activation in brain reward circuits during sports viewing, potentially leading to structural changes over time. The research also extends beyond traditional sports fan studies. Read it below to discover practical implications for public health policies and sports management practices.
Watching Sports Boosts Wellbeing
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The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.