Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
- admin
- FISO Administrator
- Posts: 11943
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 17:29
- Location: Fantasy Sports Forum
- FS Record: Won TFFO, 2nd/3rd TFF, Won BFF, Won FLGolf
- FPL:
- Contact:
Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-n ... e-59881432
Avid players of fantasy football suffer negative effects on their mental health, researchers have found.
......
"Fantasy football is unwinnable for the vast majority that play and it is possible that the more a person is invested, the more negatively impacted they will be when they 'lose'."
The researchers argue that game developers and the players themselves should do more to monitor the amount of time being dedicated to the game.
Participants in the study were from 96 nationalities, had an average age of 33 and 96% were male.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
https://www.mind.org.uk/
Avid players of fantasy football suffer negative effects on their mental health, researchers have found.
......
"Fantasy football is unwinnable for the vast majority that play and it is possible that the more a person is invested, the more negatively impacted they will be when they 'lose'."
The researchers argue that game developers and the players themselves should do more to monitor the amount of time being dedicated to the game.
Participants in the study were from 96 nationalities, had an average age of 33 and 96% were male.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
https://www.mind.org.uk/
- RomynPG
- Dumbledore
- Posts: 9089
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:32
- FS Record: FPL 134 overall 06/07 ... never close since
- FPL:
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
Will murfs 100,000th post be in this thread? 

- blahblah
- FISO Baron
- Posts: 96888
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:46
- Location: .. he thinks that he knows something which he doesn't, whereas I am quite concious of my ignorance.
- FPL:
- admin
- FISO Administrator
- Posts: 11943
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 17:29
- Location: Fantasy Sports Forum
- FS Record: Won TFFO, 2nd/3rd TFF, Won BFF, Won FLGolf
- FPL:
- Contact:
- unc.si.
- FISO Knight
- Posts: 10286
- Joined: 11 Oct 2010, 14:08
- Location: Off to buy Loctite
- FS Record: 'Loser' by Beck
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
I guess FF is pretty well suited to people with ASD's and I believe there is also quite a high correlation between people with ASD's and anxiety / mood swings, so the study sort of makes sense.
I'm sure there was a post on here a while back that indicated that quite a lot of fiso-ites scored relatively highly for ASD's. I suspect that people with ASD's probably do a lot better in fantasy comps than those not on that spectrum as a lot (appreciate not all) tend to excel at tasks requiring high focus, research, statistical analysis etc
I doubt its exclusive to fantasy Football though, any hobby that you obsess over to the detriment of 'real life' is surely going to have an impact on you if you start 'failing' at it?
- murf
- FISO Viscount
- Posts: 102443
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:28
- Location: here
- FS Record: Once led TFF. Very briefly.
- FPL:
- Contact:
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
My posting rate has gone down over the years, as has the 'seriousness' I take FF, as has my success, as has the 'stress' it caused.
Not sure how much of that is correlated or which led to which!
Years ago, I found running too many teams and comps a bit stressful with the deadlines and it became a chore so now I play less games and the 5 TFF teams suits me fine, even though I'd welcome some short term stress from a weekly or monthly effort doing well!
Now I've retired it is a tad more stressful as it takes me away from good stuff rather than being a stress reducing escape from work
In seriousness, FF has never caused me significant stress although some things do. I manage my minor stresses fairly well but can understand how it (and other mental health issues) affects and harms others to a greater degree.
Not sure how much of that is correlated or which led to which!
Years ago, I found running too many teams and comps a bit stressful with the deadlines and it became a chore so now I play less games and the 5 TFF teams suits me fine, even though I'd welcome some short term stress from a weekly or monthly effort doing well!
Now I've retired it is a tad more stressful as it takes me away from good stuff rather than being a stress reducing escape from work

In seriousness, FF has never caused me significant stress although some things do. I manage my minor stresses fairly well but can understand how it (and other mental health issues) affects and harms others to a greater degree.
- Darbyand
- Dumbledore
- Posts: 9012
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:45
- Location: Central Lancs
- FS Record: TFF World Cup 2014: 6th. TFF: 2019/20: 30th. 2021/22 32nd + 54th. Tenners league 1st 2022.
- Contact:
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
This is the ASD threadunc.si. wrote: ↑07 Jan 2022, 12:43I guess FF is pretty well suited to people with ASD's and I believe there is also quite a high correlation between people with ASD's and anxiety / mood swings, so the study sort of makes sense.
I'm sure there was a post on here a while back that indicated that quite a lot of fiso-ites scored relatively highly for ASD's. I suspect that people with ASD's probably do a lot better in fantasy comps than those not on that spectrum as a lot (appreciate not all) tend to excel at tasks requiring high focus, research, statistical analysis etc
I doubt its exclusive to fantasy Football though, any hobby that you obsess over to the detriment of 'real life' is surely going to have an impact on you if you start 'failing' at it?
viewtopic.php?t=111140
- forestfan
- FISO Jedi Knight
- Posts: 27579
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:27
- Location: Los Pollos Hermanos
- FS Record: Joint 6th TFF Wooden Spoon!
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
I’ve got more stressed about private leagues in the past than any national competition, given I’ve never got close to real money in the latter anyway… guess for some it could become a borderline gambling activity which comes with its own risks, otherwise it’s just like any other activity that can occupy too much of your time especially if you have an “obsessive” personality type.
I’ve always found supporting a perennially unsuccessful real life team to have more negative effects than anything fantasy related anyway…
I’ve always found supporting a perennially unsuccessful real life team to have more negative effects than anything fantasy related anyway…
- blahblah
- FISO Baron
- Posts: 96888
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:46
- Location: .. he thinks that he knows something which he doesn't, whereas I am quite concious of my ignorance.
- FPL:
- forestfan
- FISO Jedi Knight
- Posts: 27579
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:27
- Location: Los Pollos Hermanos
- FS Record: Joint 6th TFF Wooden Spoon!
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
It’s not stupidity, just accident of birthplace/family history/chance introduction. You don’t choose your team, your team chooses you (unless you’re pure glory-hunter anyway)

- blahblah
- FISO Baron
- Posts: 96888
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:46
- Location: .. he thinks that he knows something which he doesn't, whereas I am quite concious of my ignorance.
- FPL:
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
- wahine
- Grumpy Cat
- Posts: 2745
- Joined: 01 Jul 2009, 07:58
- FS Record: ♀️ The more man meditates
upon good thoughts, the
better will be his world
and the world at large. C. - FPL:
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
That was interesting - I scored average 16

- Darbyand
- Dumbledore
- Posts: 9012
- Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:45
- Location: Central Lancs
- FS Record: TFF World Cup 2014: 6th. TFF: 2019/20: 30th. 2021/22 32nd + 54th. Tenners league 1st 2022.
- Contact:
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
Being uncomfortable with or unable to maintain eye contact is a common autistic trait.
- Mayarentina
- Newbie
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 18 Jan 2022, 20:58
- FS Record: 1000
Re: Study on FF Fans & Mental Health
Quite sensibly.blahblah wrote: ↑07 Jan 2022, 14:51 https://seriale.bestBut you should accept your winning nowt in August![]()
Last edited by Mayarentina on 18 Jan 2022, 21:11, edited 2 times in total.
View Latest: 1 Day View Your posts