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Is Passive Sport Engagement Positively Associated with Happiness?
Fernando Lera-López1, Andrea Ollo-López1, José Manuel Sánchez-Santos2
1Public University of Navarre, Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics (INARBE), Pamplona, Spain.
Applied Psychology. Health and Well-Being
|October 6, 2020
Summary
Passive sport participation, like watching sports or discussing them, is linked to greater happiness. This contrasts with active sports, highlighting the social aspect of sports enjoyment.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Existing research links happiness and active sport participation.
- Passive sport participation's connection to happiness has been largely overlooked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between various forms of passive sport participation and happiness.
- To compare the impact of passive versus active sport participation on subjective well-being.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1,632 Spanish individuals.
- Application of ordered probit models, including techniques for ordinal endogenous covariates and robust standard errors.
Main Results:
- Positive associations were found between happiness and multiple forms of passive sport participation (e.g., attending events, watching TV, reading news, discussing sports).
- Passive sport participation showed a stronger link to happiness than active sport participation.
Conclusions:
- Passive sport engagement, particularly its social elements, significantly contributes to individual happiness.
- Findings emphasize the importance of social interactions and relational goods in understanding the link between sport participation and well-being.
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