Feature

Fantasy football managers encouraged to participate in mental health study

Researchers from Nottingham Trent University are investigating the impact of Fantasy Football on its most passionate fans – and they want your help.

They have applied a pre-existing, validated questionnaire pack to Fantasy Football in order to collect information on how Fantasy the game impacts those that play and, in turn, understand the wider implications of the growing phenomenon.

During this challenging year, mental health issues have been on the rise in almost all groups of people.

While there has been plenty of research on the subject over the past 12 months, very little has been conducted on what role Fantasy Football plays in our wellbeing.

“Fantasy Football has become a huge and global game and continues to grow each year,” says Dr. Luke Wilkins, lecturer in sports and exercise psychology at Nottingham Trent University.

“But one area we don’t know very much about is the mental health of individuals who play it.

“Millions of people play a Fantasy Football game for soccer of some description this season and it only takes a quick scroll through social media channels to see the highs and lows they experience on a regular basis.

“Despite this, there is little concrete information on the positive and negative mental effects Fantasy Football can have on one individual compared to another.

“We want to change that and, in order to do it, we need Fantasy managers to take part in our study.”

Participation in the study involves filling out a questionnaire pack that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Through a series of questions, it assesses your thoughts, behaviours, emotions and experiences around Fantasy Football.

Participants do not have to answer every question and are free to leave any blank should they not wish to respond.

All data will remain confidential and anonymous. You will not be asked for your name or any other identifying features at any point. 

Study data will only be accessible by the principal investigator and his research associate. Data collected in this study may be used in future reports such as academic journals and conference presentations. However, again, no individual will be identifiable through such publication of data.

Participants are free to withdraw at any point, either during the data collection stage or for up to three weeks following it by contacting the research team and providing the unique code they generated at the start of the questionnaire pack. In this eventuality, all of the withdrawing participant’s data will be destroyed immediately.

If you have any questions or thoughts about the questionnaire, or the topic in general, please feel free to contact Dr Luke Wilkins at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk.

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521 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    i miss roys brother johnson ,by far the most controversial poster ever,but crikey he did make me laugh with his lengthy arguments with dbronaldo,also attila the bum ,another great comedy poster,plus many others...

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2021/03/02/fantasy-football-managers-encouraged-to-participate-in-mental-health-study/?hc_page=2&hc_sort_by=comment_date#hc_comment_23543353

      Funny how I could remember those exact 3 names! i could sit with a bag of popcorn and watch RBJ/DBR argue all day xD

  2. Monster Muppets
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    I guess people can get addicted to anything.
    This questionaire seemed very heavily tilted in one direction. In general, it's not wise to put much trust in data gathered with such bias.
    You get both the effect of people being "convinced" by the questionaire that - yes, maybe i DO spend a little too much time.
    In addition, you get fanatics answering untruthfully just to prove the author wrong. "You think it's unhealthy, i'll show you - i NEVER feel sad, but I ALWAYS feel happy!"

    This researcher must be an amateur or very new to the field. No institution will take data from such a report seriously.

    1. Wilkins21
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Hi Monster Muppets,

      Thank you for completing the questionnaire, and for your feedback here, Would you be interested in receiving information about our follow-up study when the time comes? We are going to take a qualitative (interview) approach to explore the topic in more detail. This will also allow us to explore further the many positives and benefits that FF brings that - as many people on here have rightly stated - were perhaps lacking in the current questionnaire. From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

      Thanks again,
      Luke

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Can Villa v Everton be in 29?

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      No, there's an international break right after that weekend.

    2. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      28 perhaps

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Think you’ve got your numbers mixed up

    4. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Chances are zero unless they cancel IB.
      GW28 if it's going to happen before the IB.

  4. RubeRx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    those survey questions really hit home

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Very severely

    2. Wilkins21
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Hi Ruberx,

      Thank you for completing the questionnaire, and for your feedback here. Would you be interested in receiving information about our follow-up study when the time comes? We are going to take a qualitative (interview) approach to explore the topic in more detail. This will also allow us to explore further the many positives and benefits that FF brings that - as many people on here have rightly stated - were perhaps lacking in the current questionnaire. From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

      Thanks again,
      Luke

  5. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Play 1;

    A) DCL - away to Chelsea

    B) Bamford - away to West Ham

    Have Raphinha in my starting 11.

    Cheers.

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      I'm playing both - of the two probably Bam has the edge

    2. HODGE
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Bamford

    3. Pegboy
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Bamford

  6. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Any news from Smith on Martinez injury/availability for sheff?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Fit and ready

  7. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    All competitive games and hobbies are going to cause stress in some way. The more competitive you take it, the more likely you’ll get stressed about it

    1. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      specially those who play for money on daily fantasy sites

    2. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      A certain amount of stress (adrenoline) might even be a good thing. Some leading actors say that they feel physically sick before going on stage, but that it helps them to produce great performances. It shows that it matters to them, they care about it.

  8. Davemc23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    So it turns out anger is the predominant emotion I experience when playing fantasy football. Who knew? DCL triple captain fail doesn't help matters!!!

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Yeah bit of anger bit of elation and that's it for me , does anybody really get anxious over the game ??

      1. Pegboy
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 27 days ago

        15mins before the GW deadline maybe, but no, irritation is the overwhelming emotion.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Yeah irritation for me is mainly due to poor refereeing decisions but that wont change so try to just let it go and move on

    2. Eskimo Brother
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Give DCL time - I'm hoping he turns it on against West Brom and the Count of Monte Bisto on Thursday!

  9. Snevitz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    I don't understand it affecting people so much, it's a free game.
    It's exciting and rewarding to do well but it doesn't affect me negatively if I have a bad week/season.
    I find FF similar to poker - make the best decisions possible with the information you have, keep your fingers crossed and accept that there will be variance.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 27 days ago

        I enjoyed the game more 100% when I was a know nothing casual just playing to win my mini leagues

        I captained welbeck Ben arfa fellaini with success and had my friends asking "how did you know?!" But I would never even think about captaining a player like that now because I know better

        Rank is better but fun is all but gone barring flits here and there

        1. Chandler Bing
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          I still play the game in quite the maverick manner. Captained Antonio for his 4 goal haul against Norwich last season when no one even had him. Captained Son this GW over all the popular options.

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Can't bring myself to do it anymore, boring dullard play for the rank

              1. Mr. O'Connell
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                I had about 3 seasons in a row where I brought in Chris Brunt and he scored the next game. Captaining Fellaini random weeks when he hauled. Also brought in Puncheon for a run over Xmas where he went goal, goal, missed pen, goal and I benched him for the missed pen. Those are the type of things FPL used to be about for me, those "how did you know" moments from your mates.

                Here I am sat at 85% template rating and hating pretty much every minute this season.

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    3 years, 27 days ago

                    Exactly the same with pretty much the same template, I'm in the 200's for rank and can't say I've enjoyed this more than the old days

          2. Chandler Bing
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            I'm in multiple paid leagues and even I don't get as upset as I see some people on Twitter/forums. Had a depressing start of 27 points and OR of 5M in GW1 but not sitting comfortably in the Top 50K. It's a marathon, not a sprint. 1 bad week doesn't matter.

            1. Snevitz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              I'm in money leagues but, like with any gambling, if you care about the money that you staked then you shouldn't have gambled in the first place.
              Anything that I stake is paying for the enjoyment of competing, if I get a return now and then it's just a bonus.

              Fantasy football has a great impact on my mental health. I enjoy playing, stay in contact with friends through chatting about it and look forward to watching games because I have players playing.
              If I have a bad week I just focus on something else and then plan for the next week.

          3. teneighty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Saw the same argument on it being a free game on the first page. I don't get what that has to do with anything? People only get addicted and emotionally affected by things that cost money? Compare with social media that is free (except that you pay with your personal information and your soul) and is super addictive. It's basically designed to keep you wanting more.

            1. Snevitz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              To be fair, I've never really understood the obsession with social media either.
              When I say it's a free game I mean people need to rationalise and keep in perspective that, in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter.
              Its a hobby and hobbies ar ethere to be enjoyed. I don't understand all the negative emotions that people are attributing to it.

              1. teneighty
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Well I guess what I'm after is that if you are prone to mental health issues I can definitely see FPL being a trigger even though it's meant as an enjoyable hobby and it's free.

          4. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Honestly that last sentence should be displayed on the FPL website. Not everyone has the common sense and ability to apply it to their lives. I know I don't, as much as I try.

            There used to be that quote on FFS about the dark side of probability which disappeared. Now it seems we must have ceilings, upsides, sheilds, swords and all sorts of fuzzy certainties drilled into us. Even Blackbox, which is good, supposed to be 1-2 hours per week about learning what's wrong with the manager, what mistakes were made. Ultimately, if you want to make better decisions, you'll have to do science, not just blame yourself forever. 😆

        2. Dybala10
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Not many options to replace Barnes with GW29 in mind and his impending price drop.

          Would you do -

          A) Barnes and Maguire > Son and Burn for a -4

          B) Hold fire and then jump on one of Maddison or Grealish once back

          C) Only immediate move for no hit would be Soucek, Saka or Lingard.

          1. aleksios
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            A.

          2. dbeck
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            if your going to hit for 29 anyway witohut a FH, then A makes sense

        3. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          I have become increasingly persuaded that Dr Luke Wilkins has leant his name to an undergrad mini study project under him to help them get data. Nothing wrong with getting some practice under your belt, but not sure I like that underhanded method if it's really the case. Could be wrong of course.

          Weird flex: I once had one of my undergrad study projects blown up by the media, reporting, from Romania to Australia that 'researchers' at University X had wasted their time studying Y, but it makes an excellent headline. My gf's dad heard it on French radio; it was featured on Newsnight and morning news; etc, etc. Anyway, the point is that communication about science is woefully opaque and inaccessible to the general public, and that is 90% the media and 'the system', but presumably researchers can take advantage of that buffer between the two worlds and use their obscurity to get data from a more naive, perhaps more ideal, and numerous, general public, such as us in the world of FPL. Fantasy football is quite an obvious thing the study with lots of us plebs to exploit, and the potential for headlines. 😀

          Anyway, enough typing for the day. Hope everyone is feeling positive about the present moment as well as tomorrow. Keep things in perspective and do good 🙂

          1. Wilkins21
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Hi Deulofail,

            Thank you for completing the questionnaire, and for your feedback here. Would you be interested in chatting in more detail about this? From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

            Thanks again,
            Luke

        4. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Stupid game

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            now where have I seen that before...?

            1. Hy liverpool
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Nirvana? 😀

        5. aleksios
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          What to do here? 1ft 0.6itb.

          --Martinez
          --Dias--Cresswell--Digne
          --Salah--Bruno--Gundo--Raphinia
          --DCL--Bam--Kane

          --Johnstone--Dallas--Mee--Barnes.

          a) Barnes+Digne+Mee to Son+Lewis+Targett for -8.

          b) Bruno+Digne to KDB+Targett for -4.

          Not having Son so far is killing me in ML.

          Thanks all.

        6. JohnnyRev7
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Interesting survey but after going through all (or ignoring) the negative emotions, I was waiting for the positive emotions and we got a couple. I would have expected more. I never feel down after a bad GW but am bopping after a good one!

          Do people really see FF as a mental health problem? It's just a game. If it is affecting some people that badly, then they need to log off. Seriously. It's just a game.

          Addressing one of the comments above:

          MDs on here are horrendous.

          Gloating over real life player's injuries? And then mocking their FPL owners?

          The amount of spiteful comments that are permitted by the moderators is beyond the pale to me. No wonder people chose to move their convos elsewhere whilst the fudgewits and the 12-year olds take centre stage. Imagine discovering FFS for the first time, paying your £19.99 and then walking into an MD thread?

          Which was a valid reason after a few GWs at the start of the season for me to cancel my rolling annual subscription. After ten years.

          FFS has all the bells and whistles at the front end to drive it forward. Unfortunately, it's ignoring the back end which is where the drive has evaporated.

          Just wait for MCI team news tonight, and then commentary on the game to see FFS in all its glory.

          1. Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Agree with all of this. Was on here to catch up on the Barnes injury and there are some seriously sad people out there.

            Here's a sneak preview of what we can expect 7-11pm this evening.

            Lol @ Gundo cappers
            Dias owners no place to hide
            120 with 12 to play. Above average?

          2. Snevitz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Agree with all of this, there's hardly any long term posters left...I can't follow because I don't know where they went!

          3. Wilkins21
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Hi Johnnyrev7,

            Thank you for completing the questionnaire, and for your feedback here. Would you be interested in receiving information about our follow-up study when the time comes? We are going to take a qualitative (interview) approach to explore the topic in more detail. This will also allow us to explore further the many positives and benefits that FF brings that - as many people on here have rightly stated - were perhaps lacking in the current questionnaire. From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

            Thanks again,
            Luke

        7. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          F#rca
          Ronh
          Eve
          Towelie

          Those were the days.

          1. Egg noodle
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Amen

          2. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Aye notables from when I first I first joined . Evs a real gent others crazy fellas . loved em

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Didn't he get real close to winning it one year?

              1. Debauchy
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Indeed think he finished 3rd that year ?

        8. Xabi
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          survey on mental health should just ask:

          1. How are you doing in FPL?

          a) red arrow
          b) green arrow

          a = depressed
          b = happy

        9. The Rumour Mill
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Unfortunately my mental health is lowered more by surveys than it ever is by fantasy football, so I won't be partaking 😉

          1. teneighty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            That's probably a healthy attitude. 🙂

          2. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            It never affects my life, I do it for fun!!!

        10. Paulie Walnuts
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          6 pieces of fresh fruit, mostly mixed berries.

          Open up the car bonnet

          1. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            This week I have been mostly eating?

        11. Geordie19
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Considering a -4 for Bruno and Barnes to Raph/Lookman and Bale (subject to minutes Thursday)

          Is losing Bruno mad?
          50 points behind leader so need a little differential. Thoughts appreciated

          1. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Worth a punt. Can also go back in a couple of weeks when Bale has been banished to the GK again and Bruno is tearing it up.

          2. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            No

            1. Warby84
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              As in it’s not mad to lose Bruno

        12. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Liverpool have lost 1029 days worth of players due to injury this season.

          400 days more than city.

          Why are they such "bad champions" with fans who make up excuses like injuries?

          What injuries? Right?

          1. Hy liverpool
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Have my upvote..will discuss these things after

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Jurgen The Gegen's final season at Dortmund?

            I thought not. It's not a story The Scouse would tell you.

            1. FPL price manipulators are …
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              This

          3. Alexis Nonsense
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            I think the number of days total is less important than which players are affected

            If City has an injury, they have 1-3 top notch players to fill in, even when both their strikers are out, they have players who's capable of false 9 and all that

            Now, should Klopp find a solution, I would expect him to, but surprised he's not been able yet

            1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              I agree. But the players missing are significant.

              It is easier to replace a lone striker than it is a cb. You need two CB's and you dont need a striker.

              Even city couldn't cope at cb last season due to a third of the injuries liverpool have in that position.

              Jurgen will find a solution to get top 4 but bad champions and no injury crisis is farcical

        13. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Time to start displaying an upvote count, FFS. All my suffering on this site mustn't go to waste!

        14. King Kohli
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Thoughts on DCL > Antonio this week?

          If Everton don't have a DGW in 28, it looks like a good move.
          Can get Antonio for Leeds and also has a game in gw 29.

          1. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Maybe, Eve still decent fixtures in the next few

        15. TeddiPonza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 27 days ago

          Play Forster or Martinez next week?

          1. Hy liverpool
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            +1

          2. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Does the upvote answer your question

            • Warby84
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Martinez

          3. Eskimo Brother
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            Reading about Fantasy League/Mental Health Studies whilst browsing a FL site again in the middle of a working day....yeah, this doesn't feel good!

            1. Hy liverpool
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              +1

          4. McPollolocco
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            My Team:

            Martinez
            Coufal, Targett, Castagne, Cancelo, Digne
            Rodriguez, Lookman, Neto, Salah, Zaha
            Kane, Ings, Bamford

            Should i do this transfers

            - Lookman and Castagne --> Lingard and Reguilon for a -4 hit?

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              No (Lingard can't play against MUFC)

          5. The Train Driver
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            That survey was too long and hard to navigate, gave up...

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              +1

          6. Camino Aleatorio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            If you like FPL, that is not mentally healthy. Yes, I am a player.

            Your order of priority should be:

            (1) Study challenging subjects in science and engineering
            (2) Lift weights
            (3) Run a few miles daily
            (4) Cook your own food from healthy ingredients
            (5) Pray and read devotional works (Christian, Muslim, or your chosen religion)
            (6) Invest and allocate money for returns
            (7) Invest in your relationships, physical not virtual
            (8) Develop a physical craft, like shooting, navigation, or agriculture

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              8 of those

            2. Egg noodle
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              I used to split my time between fpl/shares/poker.

              Now I am 100% fpl and not losing money anymore.

          7. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            The 'sort by rating' is broken for everyone, right?

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Yes