Sport Spectatorship and Life Satisfaction: A Multicountry Investigation

TLDR

Elite and professional sport events are recognized as mechanisms that can enhance well‑being. The study examines how live spectating and team identification relate to life satisfaction across countries. The authors used a two‑wave survey design in Australia and the United States, measuring live spectating, team identification, perceived emotional support, and life satisfaction. Live spectating and team identification are positively linked to life satisfaction, with perceived emotional support mediating the latter, suggesting that sport managers can design events to promote community well‑being.

Abstract

Elite and professional sport events have been recognized as potential mechanisms to enhance well-being. This multicountry study investigates how engagement in such events, behaviorally through live spectating and psychologically through team identification, is associated with life satisfaction. Data from Australia ( N = 268) revealed a positive association between live spectating and life satisfaction through a two-wave design measuring live spectating and life satisfaction in separate surveys. Data from the United States ( N = 564) confirmed the live spectating–life satisfaction relationship found in Study 1. Additionally, Study 2 revealed individuals with higher levels of team identification perceived greater emotional support from other fans, and this perception, in turn, predicted life satisfaction. Our findings provide sport managers with implications for positioning appeals in support of sport programs and designing events that facilitate engagement to promote life satisfaction in the community.