Watching live sports was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and lower levels of loneliness, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Public Health, leading researchers to say sporting events could be used to shape public health strategies.

Study details

For the study, researchers looked at data from a survey of 7,209 people ages 16 to 85 living in England. The survey asked participants questions about their lives and well-being, including questions about whether they attended sporting events.

The researchers found that attending live sporting events, whether Premier League soccer matches or free amateur sporting events, was associated with higher self-reported scores on life satisfaction and lower scores on loneliness.

The researchers also found that attending live sports led to an increase in people's sense that "life is worthwhile," comparable to the same increase people experienced when they got a new job.

People who attended live sporting events also saw higher self-reported life satisfaction than certain demographic factors, like age or employment, which can indicate how worthwhile someone believes their life is.

Discussion

While the researchers cautioned that their study results don't mean watching live sports actually causes the gains found, the association is worth further exploration, especially because of the association between reduced loneliness and increased life satisfaction and better overall health.

"Our findings could be useful for shaping future public health strategies, such as offering reduced ticket prices for certain groups," said Helen Keyes, lead author on the study and head of the Anglia Ruskin University School of Psychology.

The researchers suggested the social interactions that come with sporting events could help people feel like they belong, which could make them feel less lonely.

Other research on live sporting events has found that watching sports can lead to some health problems associated with increased heart rates and higher blood pressure brought on by games.

However, Robert Shmerling, a physician and senior faculty editor of Harvard Health Publishing, noted that most "people who choose to watch sports enjoy it and do not experience any health problems during or afterwards." (Blakemore, Washington Post, 3/26; Baker, Axios, 3/27)