Does sport make you happy? An analysis of the well-being derived from sports participation

摘要

This paper examines the impact of sports participation upon the subjective well- being of individuals. Encouraging participation in sports activity is now an important public policy issue, as it is argued that there are benefits in terms of health and well-being to individuals as well as to society through externalities. Controlling for personal and socio-demographic characteristics affecting well- being, this paper examines if participation in, and the frequency and duration of, 67 sports activities affects well-being. The form in which sports participation takes place is also investigated by examining if social-interaction sports produce more well-being. This paper demonstrates that sports participation has a positive affect upon the subjective well-being of the population and, moreover, estimates its monetary value. The effects are larger if one allows for social interactions.