A significant new research resource, a "Longitudinal event-sampling dataset of football fans across five countries during the 2024 European championship," has been made available, offering unprecedented insights into the psychological and social impacts of major sporting tournaments. Documented and published as of June 7, 2026, this dataset provides detailed, match-contingent experience sampling data collected during the UEFA Euro 2024Competition·UEFA Euro 2024 tournament.
The extensive data was gathered from 1,012 individuals across five European nations: EnglandTeam·England, Germany, Italy, the NetherlandsTeam·Netherlands, and Poland. Researchers employed an event-sampling methodology, conducting between four and eight measurement waves per participant, contingent on their national team's progression through the tournament. This approach allowed for the capture of time-sensitive fluctuations across 30 variables, directly correlating with the national team's objective success—wins, draws, or losses—and the fans' perceived success.
The dataset encompasses a wide array of variables, categorized into individual, interpersonal, and broader societal dimensions. Individual-level metrics include life satisfaction, while interpersonal variables track aspects such as prosocial intent. On a societal scale, the data explores factors like political trust, offering a holistic view of fan sentiment and its wider implications.
Further enriching the dataset are moderating variables, which provide additional context for the observed fluctuations. These include Big-5 personality traits, beliefs concerning conspiracy and free will, and detailed information on alcohol consumption and betting behaviors among participants. Moreover, the dataset integrates specific match data, such as shots on target, yellow cards issued, and stadium attendance figures, allowing for granular analysis of game-day influences.
In a related development, a preregistered study, published on June 4, 2026, utilized similar participant groups to investigate the relationship between national men's soccer team success during UEFA Euro 2024Competition·UEFA Euro 2024 and the frequency of sexual events in daily life. This study involved 952 participants from the same five European countries, yielding 3,627 reports. Findings indicated that participants reported a higher incidence of cognitive, affective, and behavioral sexual events following their national teams' victories compared to losses. These effects were particularly pronounced among highly identified fans and were partially attributed to an increase in overall well-being experienced after a win. Participants in this study provided their reports the day after each of their national teams' matches.
Together, these datasets and studies represent a substantial contribution to the understanding of fan psychology and the societal resonance of international football tournaments. They offer a robust foundation for future research into how collective sporting experiences influence individual well-being and broader social dynamics.
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