Photo/Illutration A scene from an Olympic men's soccer match between New Zealand and South Korea held on July 22 at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium (Hikaru Uchida)

A rare study into the health effects of watching sports suggests that it reduces the risks of depression among elderly people, regardless of whether they played any sports.

It found the more frequently they watched sports, the better the outcome.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Tsukuba and other institutes, and was part of ongoing efforts by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), which performs follow-up surveys on the health conditions of elderly people.

"I think many people feel uplifted when they see outstanding performances by (Los Angeles Angels pitcher-hitter) Shohei Ohtani and men's golfer Hideki Matsuyama on the screen. Watching sports is an opportunity to feel excited in a casual manner," said Taishi Tsuji, an assistant professor of sports science at the University of Tsukuba, who worked on the report. "It may be possible to help prevent elderly people from developing depression if we make use of the results of this study."

In 2019, the researchers sent questionnaires to people 65 or older who live in 60 cities, towns and villages across the country. It analyzed responses from about 21,000 people.

The participants were asked whether they watched professional sports, local sports clubs and athletic meets, and preliminary matches of the National High School Baseball Championship.

Their depression levels were measured through a set of 15 questions developed specifically for the elderly. The questions included whether they were content with their daily lives and whether they felt despair.

Compared to the respondents who did not watch any sports, those who watched games on site several times a year were 0.70 times less likely to develop symptoms of depression.

Those who watched one to three times a month were 0.66 times less likely.

There was no significant difference for those who watched sports at least once a week.

"It is possible that some of the people who visit locations (to watch sports) at least once a week do so out of obligation or because they have relationship problems with their family members, rather than for the sheer joy of it," one of the researchers said.

The risk continued to decrease as the frequency of watching sports on TV or online increased. Those who watched sports several times a year were 0.86 times less likely to develop symptoms of depression, while those who watched one to three times a month were 0.79 times less likely. Viewers who watched once or more a week were 0.71 times less likely.

The team also asked participants about their attachment to and trust in their neighborhood, as well as how frequently they meet with friends and how many they would meet.

Regardless of how they watch sports, those who do tend to have an attachment to their neighborhood and have more friends compared to those who do not watch any sports.

These factors are key in reducing the risk of becoming depressed, according to the research team.

"Just watching (sports) has been proven effective. We want to use the findings to improve mental health," said a member of the study team.

The results were published in the British journal Scientific Reports at (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-89994-8).

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