HomeBlogPatientYour Brain & the Super Bowl: Win or Lose, the Mental Health Effects of Being a Fan Your Brain & the Super Bowl: Win or Lose, the Mental Health Effects of Being a Fan February 8, 2016Patient Football enthusiasts can take note: Research over the years reveals some significant mental health benefits to being an invested fan. A 2015 study published by Journal of Amateur Sport suggests that allying oneself with a group, such as a football or baseball team, can give a person a sense of belonging and social connection. There’s a bonding that takes place, and a feeling of shared purpose, that can have positive psychological ripple effects on deeply engaged fans. “Many fans are motivated to root for a particular team because of that identity with a team, with other fans, and with the community,” says Adam Earnheardt, chairman of the communications department at Youngstown State University and co-author of Sports Fans, Identity, and Socialization: Exploring the Fandemonium (Lexington Books, 2013). When you’re aligned with a team, it’s hard to feel alienated or alone: Simply wearing a Seahawks jersey in Seattle can bring a thumb’s up or a high-five from someone you’ve never met before, just through that shared connection. The positive effects of fandom can only increase if a beloved team wins. But what if they lose? Experts say that shared misery over a team’s losses can be yet another form of bonding—as long as the fan can keep his or her feelings in check. “I think it depends on how invested the fan is in the team,” says Earnheardt. “If it rises to the level of fanaticism, where the entire identity of the fan is wrapped up in the success or failure of the team, then the effects could be dramatic.” If a fan already suffers from a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression, over-investing in a team can be a risky business. “We cheer on favorite teams for something Hans Selye called euphoric stress, or eustress,” explains Earnheardt. “Selye, a famous endocrinologist, described this as a kind of good or positive stress, as opposed to distress, or bad stress.” For example, the game’s come down to a 48-yard field goal with :03 seconds left on the clock, and you’re on the edge of your seat. Depending on how well-equipped you are to handle that kind of moment and keep it in perspective (it’s just a game, right?), good stress can turn into distress. So someone suffering from an anxiety disorder or depression might want to avoid those close, high-stress games, says Earnheardt. In the end, the benefits of fandom seem to outweigh the risks for most people. As this football season draws to a close, let yourself feel that team spirit—and the sense of community and human connection that come with it. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. 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Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
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