| Literature DB >> 26029124 |
Stefan Stieger1, Friedrich M Götz1, Fabienne Gehrig1.
Abstract
The current research examined the effects of soccer match results on spectators' subjective well-being. Across the group stage of the soccer World Cup 2014, German-speaking participants indicated their well-being three times per day through a smartphone-based science app. In line with proposed hypotheses, comparisons of data taken after the three matches of the German national team showed robust effects, revealing that well-being was higher among spectators than non-spectators, with effects increasing as a function of goal difference. Moreover, this gain in well-being was only found in spectators supporting the German soccer team, allowing us to rule out a general emotional contagion effect affecting all spectators. Although soccer results are associated with national identity and pride, their effects on subjective well-being were short-lived and only affected supporters.Entities:
Keywords: emotional contagion; positive psychology; science app; smartphone study; soccer world cup; subjective well-being
Year: 2015 PMID: 26029124 PMCID: PMC4427715 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00497
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Front Psychol ISSN: 1664-1078
Between-subject comparisons of well-being directly after the match between spectators of the respective match and those that did not watch the match.
| Germany vs. | Did not watch the match (non-spectators) | Watched the match (spectators) | Between-group comparison | ANCOVA with intensity of support for the German soccer team as a covariate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal (4:0) | 26 | 68.3 (18.8) | 143 | 81.2 (21.5) | 2.88** | 0.64 | 0.01 | |
| Ghana (2:2) | 15 | 68.7 (23.4) | 126 | 67.2 (24.9) | -0.22 | -0.06 | <0.01 | |
| USA (1:0) | 24 | 68.0 (16.1) | 139 | 76.8 (19.4) | 2.39* | 0.49 | 0.01 | |