There’s nothing quite like the feeling of watching live sport. At home on the sofa, in the pub with your mates or if you’re lucky enough to be there in the stadium – the goose-bump-inducing, endorphin-boosting, spine-tingling exhilaration is second to none. 

And this summer, there are plenty of opportunities to get stuck in. From the drama of Wimbledon and the passion of the Euros to the incredible athleticism on display at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the next couple of months will be full of fantastic moments.

But watching sport isn’t just a bit of fun. We know that physical activity is great for our mental and physical health, but it turns out these gains aren’t limited to taking part; watching sport can offer huge benefits for our mental health and wellbeing.

So, even if you’re not able to partake in any feel-good exercise this summer, you can still harness some of the wonderful benefits. 

1. It cultivates a sense of community and boosts wellbeing 

It’s no secret that feeling part of a group is a basic human need. A sense of belonging has been shown to improve health and resilience, as well as fostering a shared sense of identity. Evolutionarily speaking, being part of a group was – often literally – a matter of life or death. And while our favourite team losing isn’t quite this fundamental, the feelings it instils can be intense. 

“Watching sport definitely delivers a sense of community – a shared mission, shared values, a common purpose,” says psychotherapist and fitness instructor Eloise Skinner. “It cultivates a sense of belonging, like we’re included in something greater than our own lives. This is especially the case where we align our identity with a particular team, but it can apply more generally when we feel passionate about a particular sport.”

Sport provides a unique combination of excitement, competition and camaraderie that can’t be found in many other activities. “It is an experience that unites people from all walks of life and gives them a common ground to share,” says psychotherapist Karen Hartley. “It creates shared experiences that bring people closer together, enabling a sense of community and belonging which mitigates loneliness and boosts levels of wellbeing.”

2. It provides healthy inspiration and role models 

There’s no doubt about it, we can learn a lot about character from sportspeople. The resilience they have to dig deep for when things aren’t going their way, the commitment to train for their goals for hours each day and the grace to accept defeat. 

In a world saturated with role models, it’s refreshing to find ones we’d be happy for our kids to follow. And with research showing that positive role models help foster happiness, safety and an interest in education in young people, it’s clear this can only be a good thing. 

“Watching sport provides us with inspiration and healthy role modelling,” says Dr Claire Plumbly, clinical psychologist and director of Good Therapy. “When we see sports figures or team members striving to do well, going through tricky periods and then getting back into their game, this can provide us with healthy role models and behaviours for coping with our own setbacks.”

3. It’s good for brain health 

A recent study has revealed that watching sports triggers the reward centre in our brains. Researchers from the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University in Japan found that as well as boosting overall wellbeing, regular sports viewing was associated with activations in the brain’s reward circuits, “indicative of feelings of happiness or pleasure”, the researchers said. 

In addition, and perhaps more interestingly, the participants who reported watching sport most frequently had more grey matter volume in areas of their brains associated with reward centres, leading the researchers to conclude that regular sports viewing may even lead to changes in brain structures.

 4. It’s a great stress reliever

Kicking back and screaming at the TV for a few hours after work is an excellent way of relieving stress and releasing pent-up emotions, say the experts (OK, maybe not the screaming part, but you get the gist.)

“Watching sports is a great way of harnessing social connection for stress relief,” says Dr Plumbly. “When we see friendly, happy faces (as is often the case when people are enjoying sport together) this lights up certain parts of our autonomic nervous system called the social engagement system. This helps us feel safe and anchored, so it’s a great way of melting the negative effects of stress away.”

And although a tense and thrilling match can feel physically intense, what we’re experiencing is what’s known as ‘eustress’, ie positive, healthy stress. “The stress we can feel while enthralled in sports isn’t the negative type we try to steer away from,” explains Dr Plumbly. “Because it’s short-lived and associated with a positive experience, it’s healthy stress and feels exciting and fulfilling rather than draining, like unhealthy stress. This can re-energise us when we feel depleted.”

5. It helps us switch off for a while

Feeling overwhelmed and stressed at work? Watch some sport.

“A lot of people find it hard to ‘switch off’ from work-related worries and activities,” says Dr Plumbly. “Watching sports can be very engaging and a good way to let go of work stress and provide respite from life admin and other concerns. This can be really helpful for people who are burnt out, as its immersive nature allows us to take time away from thinking about our problems.”

6. It’s aspirational 

While watching the Paris Olympics this summer is unlikely to turn us into champion athletes, according to research by the Sports Think Tank, it can inspire us. 

“Watching sport can inspire you to become more active,” agrees Hartley. “The dedication, discipline and resilience displayed by sports stars can serve as a powerful motivator for individuals pursuing their own goals, whether they are related to fitness, career or personal development. This, in turn, increases confidence, self-esteem and productivity.”

So, if watching sport inspires you to try a new hobby, that’s great news. But even if it doesn’t, there’s no doubt that it’s still doing you good. 

Images: Getty