Does watching sports stress you out? Watching in person and or on the television can both boost health risks even close to as similar as participating in the sports yourself.
There is lots of evidence that watching sports could be very hazardous to your mental and in some cases even physical health. This does vary depending on how often you watch, and how much you enjoy sports. If you do not like sports then you’re in luck, because this does not pertain to you.
Negative Health Effects of Watching Sports-
Opposed to participating in sports, watching is obviously inferior but they have similar side effects. While sports fandom can create a sense of community and joy, it can also be emotionally taxing, potentially leading to stress, anger, and addiction-like behaviors. Finding a balanced approach to sports fandom is essential for maintaining good mental health and avoiding experiencing sports fan depression.
Watching sports can often negatively impact mental health by inducing anxiety, frustration, and stress to the viewers. Particularly during intense games or after losses this may increase. Excessive involvement can also lead to addiction-like behaviors and low self-esteem. Additionally, prolonged engagement can take up significant time, possibly rejecting other responsibilities and activities.
Positive Effects of Watching Sports –
Watching sports can offer various positive health benefits, including enhanced mental well-being, social connection and even some physical benefits. My research suggests that sports viewing can boost happiness, reduce stress, and potentially even impact brain structures positively.
Studies show that watching sports can trigger the brain’s reward circuits, leading to feelings of happiness and pleasure. Engaging in sports viewing can help individuals cope with stress and even reduce the risk of depression. Watching complex sports, especially live, can act as a mental exercise, potentially improving concentration and focus. It can provide a common ground for social interaction, fostering relationships with friends and family. Attending live sporting events has been linked to lower levels of loneliness and higher life satisfaction.
In Person Atmosphere of Watching Sports –
The in person atmosphere of a sports event can be very dangerous. For example, a baseball game. There have been numerous cases of viewers in bleachers being hit by baseballs and injured. Between the years of 2012 and 2019 there have been more than 800 injuries officially reported. This data was collected from only 4 out the 30 teams. Which means if you were to estimate each injury from all 30 MLB teams, it would approximate 6,000 injuries in the span of 7 years.
Another example is at basketball games. While not always severe, there have been instances of fans being injured when NBA players dive into the crowd. The unpredictable nature of the crowd, the speed of the player, and the potential for collisions can lead to many injuries. These can range from minor bumps and bruises to more serious injuries like sprains or fractures, as reported by Sports Medicine Australia.
One final example can be from NFL games or from any other major sports league. The crowd and environment at games get very rough especially at an NFL game. Some stadiums can reach up to 142.2 decibels, which can be incredibly painful for your ears. Not only the noise level can be risky. Fights in stadiums between fans occur quite frequently. In December, 2023 a Patriots fan died in an altercation at Gillette Stadium. He did not participate in the fight but was caught in the crossfire. Two men were charged with assault, battery, and disorderly conduct as well as being banned from entering Gillette Stadium ever again.
