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Watching sports and happiness among older adults in Japan: The JAGES cohort study

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  • Kenjiro Kawaguchi
  • Kazushige Ide
  • Satoru Kanamori
  • Taishi Tsuji
  • Katsunori Kondo

Abstract

Objective: While watching sports may enhance older adults’ happiness, the relationship between sports spectatorship and happiness may vary depending on on-site or TV/Internet. This study examined associations between different forms of sports spectatorship (on-site and TV/Internet) and happiness among older adults in Japan. Methods: We used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, conducted in 2019 and 2022. The outcome variable was happiness, and the explanatory variables were watching sports on-site, watching professional sports on-site, and watching sports on TV/Internet. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the association between watching sports and happiness, after adjusting for potential confounders. A modified Poisson regression analysis was performed for the binarized outcome with a cutoff of 8 points. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on sports club participation, age, and sex. Results: Watching sports on-site a few times annually was associated with higher happiness scores (B: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.19) and a higher prevalence of happiness (PR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.12) than not watching sports. Similar results were observed when the participants watched professional sports a few times annually (B: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.22; PR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.12). No significant associations were found between watching sports on TV/Internet and happiness. The associations were more pronounced among participants who did not participate in sports clubs, males, and those aged

Suggested Citation

  • Kenjiro Kawaguchi & Kazushige Ide & Satoru Kanamori & Taishi Tsuji & Katsunori Kondo, 2025. "Watching sports and happiness among older adults in Japan: The JAGES cohort study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0320213
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320213
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wido G. M. Oerlemans & Arnold B. Bakker & Ruut Veenhoven, 2011. "Finding the Key to Happy Aging: A Day Reconstruction Study of Happiness," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 66(6), pages 665-674.
    2. Ed Diener, 2006. "Guidelines for National Indicators of Subjective Well-Being and Ill-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 397-404, November.
    3. Stephen Jivraj & James Nazroo & Bram Vanhoutte & Tarani Chandola, 2014. "Aging and Subjective Well-Being in Later Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(6), pages 930-941.
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