Researchers recently found that people, especially men, who actively watch or participate in sports and cultural activities are happier and healthier than those who stay at home.
The Norwegian study involved 50,000 people, and found that men who were active in a variety of activities, like sports, social events, music shows, or going to museums, were 14% more likely to report being satisfied with life and 12-13% less likely to have anxiety or be depressed. There was an effect in women also, but it was less significant than in men.
The effect might seem small, but one of the researchers noted that ”even if cultural participation might not do much for an individual’s likelihood of being unhappy or ill… small changes can have a big effect across an entire population.” It’s important to mention that this proved only a correlation, not a cause and effect–so it might be that happier and healthier people are more interested in getting out in the world, or it might be that the activities are positively impacting lives. I would be interested in learning whether it was related to the social aspects of sports and culture, since we know that socializing is good for happiness and health too.
- Team Shirsa
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