Athletes reap both the mental and physical health benefits of participating in sports. But what about spectators? It turns out that fans may have one more thing to cheer about: being a sports spectator can strengthen emotional well-being. If you have a love of sports, you can feel good watching your favorite athletes; you may be growing emotionally stronger.
10 Reasons Why Being a Spectator Can Strengthen Mental Health:
- Dopamine is released: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that your body makes. It plays a role in feelings of pleasure and rewards. It has a “feel good” function. Watching sports is a enjoyable activity and can spark a cycle of feelings of motivation, reward, and reinforcement, along with a good mood and even a sense of euphoria.
- An energizing feeling takes over: Watching an athletic matchup can be exciting. The energy from being part of a sporting event, even as a spectator and even if you’re watching from home, can be a mood booster.
- An emotional outlet is at the ready: What do fans do when they’re watching sports? They yell, they cheer, they may even cry tears of joy. Sporting events offer a built-in outlet for a range of emotions.
- A sense of accomplishment arises: Whether you’re watching or participating in sports, you may feel a sense of accomplishment, even vicariously, from the hard work, effort, and dedication put in by athletes, trainers, organizers, and fans.
- Worries and negative feelings can be interrupted: You can disrupt the cycle of negative or anxious thoughts and feelings by engaging in an activity. Taking your mind off your worries by watching sports can be a victory for your mental health.
- Community lifts spirits: Being a fan makes you part of a community. A sense of community helps diminish negative feelings of isolation and increases feelings of support and belonging.
- Fans share a common bond and a common language: Love of a sport, an athlete, or a team can offer a common bond for fans that can span generations. Sports can be a mutual enjoyable topic of conversation and a great way to engage with others.
- Watching TV can be good for you: Research shows that watching TV can offer us feelings of social connections, which are good for mental wellness.
- Fandom can be an escape from stress: Taking a break from everyday stressors to watch sports can offer relief and a welcome reprieve.
- Victory is sweet, but you can find good in losses, too: A win can be a real mood-booster. A loss can help build resilience.
It’s important to keep your role as a fan in perspective. If being a spectator causes too much stress or comes with bad habits, it may be time to step back. For instance, healthy eating, exercise, taking a break from TV, and keeping the stress of losses in control are important for mental health. Try focusing on the positives of athletics—that’s a win-win.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
