The Role of Emotion Regulation and Age in Experiencing Mediated Sports

<jats:p> Recent research indicates that sports fanship decreases with age. Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) posits that older adults, with time limited, shift their focus on positive experiences. Entertainment media choices reflect this proactive emotion regulation strategy. This study applied that perspective to mediated sports content, itself characterized by emotional intensity and unknown outcomes. Using an online survey containing an experimental condition ( N = 433), the current study investigated whether the unpredictability and emotional intensity of sports contribute to older people disengaging from viewing it. The results are mixed: Older adults consume less sports media than younger adults and value the outcome less but are equally likely to be sports fans or watch highly exciting sports contests. It seems that fanship may contribute to happiness for some and thus reflect an active choice. Future research should investigate individual differences among older sports fans and nonfans to expand knowledge on their (emotional) viewing experiences. </jats:p>