Does It Matter if Sport Fans “Root for the Home Team?” A Test of the Team Identification–Social Psychological Health Model

in Journal of Sport Management

Click name to view affiliation

Benjamin J.I. Schellenberg Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Search for other papers by Benjamin J.I. Schellenberg in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9179-3776 *
and
Patrick Gaudreau School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Search for other papers by Patrick Gaudreau in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4094-5423
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2022-0029
Keywords:
fandom; Process Model 7; social connections; social well-being; well-being
First Published Online:
13 Jan 2023
In Print:
Volume 37: Issue 3
Page Range:
217–225
Restricted access

The team identification–social psychological health model outlines that fans of local sport teams are more likely to experience feelings of social connectedness compared with fans of distant teams. We tested this proposition across two sufficiently powered studies. In both studies, sport fans (Study 1: N = 291, Study 2: N = 430) completed online surveys assessing their levels of identification with a favorite sport team and social connections derived from their fandom for that team. Team localness was operationalized based on team location (Study 1) or responses to survey questions assessing team localness (Study 2). In both studies, the positive association between team identification and social connectedness was not moderated by team localness. This research contributes to the team identification–social psychological health model and our general understanding of fan behavior by showing that the social benefits of being a highly identified sport fan are not limited to fans of local teams.

  • Collapse
  • Expand

Journal of Sport Management

Cover Journal of Sport Management

  • Aron, A., Lewandowski, G.W., Mashek, D., & Aron, E.N. (2013). The self-expansion model of motivation and cognition in close relationships. In J. Simpson & L. Campbell (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of close relationships (pp. 90–115). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195398694.013.0005

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Aron, A., Steele, J.L., Kashdan, T.B., & Perez, M. (2006). When similars do not attract: Tests of a prediction from the self-expansion model. Personal Relationships, 13(4), 387–396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00125.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cialdini, R.B., Borden, R.J., Thorne, A., Walker, M.R., Freeman, S., & Sloan, L.R. (1976). Basking in reflected glory: Three (football) field studies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 366–375. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.34.3.366

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Collins, D.R., Heere, B., Shapiro, S., Ridinger, L., & Wear, H. (2016). The displaced fan: The importance of new media and community identification for maintaining team identity with your hometown team. European Sport Management Quarterly, 16(5), 655–674. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2016.1200643

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Correll, J., & Park, B. (2005). A model of the ingroup as a social resource. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 9, 341–359. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0904_4

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Costello, A.B., & Osborne, J. (2005.). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: Four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 10(7), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.7275/JYJ1-4868

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Donavan, D.T., Janda, S., & Suh, J. (2006). Environmental influences in corporate brand identification and outcomes. Journal of Brand Management, 14, 125–136. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.bm.2550057

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149–1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grieve, R., Indian, M., Witteveen, K., Anne Tolan, G., & Marrington, J. (2013). Face-to-face or Facebook: Can social connectedness be derived online? Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 604–609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.11.017

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haslam, S.A., Jetten, J., Postmes, T., & Haslam, C. (2009). Social identity, health and well-being: An emerging agenda for applied psychology. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 58, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00379.x

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hayes, A.F. (2018). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hayes, A.F., & Cai, L. (2007). Using heteroskedasticity-consistent standard error estimators in OLS regression: An introduction and software implementation. Behavior Research Methods, 39(4), 709–722. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03192961

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hedlund, D.P. (2014). Creating value through membership and participation in sport fan consumption communities. European Sport Management Quarterly, 14(1), 50–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2013.865775

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hill, A.D., Johnson, S.G., Greco, L.M., O’Boyle, E.H., & Walter, S.L. (2021). Endogeneity: A review and agenda for the methodology-practice divide affecting micro and macro research. Journal of Management, 47(1), 105–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320960533

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hutchins, B., Li, B., & Rowe, D. (2019). Over-the-top sport: Live streaming services, changing coverage rights markets and the growth of media sport portals. Media, Culture & Society, 41(7), 975–994. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443719857623

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Inoue, Y., Funk, D.C., Wann, D.L., Yoshida, M., & Nakazawa, M. (2015). Team identification and postdisaster social well-being: The mediating role of social support. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 19, 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000019

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • James, J.D., Delia, E.B., & Wann, D.L. (2019). “No” is not “low”: Improving the assessment of sport team identification. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 28, 34–45. https://doi.org/10.32731/SMQ.281.032019.03

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kim, H.S., Cho, K.M., & Kim, M. (2019). Information-sharing behaviors among sports fans using #hashtags. Communication & Sport, 9, Article 216747951987846. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167479519878466

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kim, H.S., & Kim, M. (2020). Viewing sports online together? Psychological consequences on social live streaming service usage. Sport Management Review, 23(5), 869–882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2019.12.007

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Luhtanen, R., & Crocker, J. (1992). A collective self-esteem scale: Self-evaluation of one’s social identity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(3), 302–318. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167292183006

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Oh, H.J., Ozkaya, E., & LaRose, R. (2014). How does online social networking enhance life satisfaction? The relationships among online supportive interaction, affect, perceived social support, sense of community, and life satisfaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.07.053

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Palan, S., & Schitter, C. (2018). Prolific.ac—A subject pool for online experiments. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 17, 22–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2017.12.004

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Penton, K. (2012). Minnesota Vikings are Manitoba’s favourite NFL team. Winnipeg Sun. https://tinyurl.com/26mpbm3t

  • Phua, J. (2012). Use of social networking sites by sports fans: Implications for the creation and maintenance of social capital. Journal of Sports Media, 7(1), 109–132. https://doi.org/10.1353/jsm.2012.0006

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Real, M. (2006). Sports online: The newest player in mediasport. In A. Raney & J. Bryant (Eds.), Handbook of sports and media (pp. 183–197). Routledge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Schellenberg, B.J.I., & Gaudreau, P. (2021). An inch away from being mentally tough: Performance bias in ratings of mental toughness. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 10, 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000210

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Silvia, P.J. (2005). What is interesting? Exploring the appraisal structure of interest. Emotion, 5(1), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.5.1.89

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Snyder, C.R., & Fromkin, H.L. (1980). Uniqueness: The human pursuit of difference. Plenum Press.

  • Stavros, C., Meng, M.D., Westberg, K., & Farrelly, F. (2014). Understanding fan motivation for interacting on social media. Sport Management Review, 17(4), 455–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2013.11.004

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (2019). Using multivariate statistics (7th ed.). Pearson Education.

  • Takemura, K. (2014). Being different leads to being connected: On the adaptive function of uniqueness in “open” societies. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(10), 1579–1593. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022114548684

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L. (2006). Understanding the positive social psychological benefits of sport team identification: The team identification–social psychological health model. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 10, 272–296. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.10.4.272

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L., & Branscombe, N.R. (1993). Sports fans: Measuring degree of identification with the team. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 24, 1–17.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L., Dimmock, J.A., & Grove, J.R. (2003). Generalizing the team identification-psychological health model to a different sport and culture: The case of Australian rules football. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 7, 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.7.4.289

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L., Hackathorn, J., & Sherman, M.R. (2017). Testing the team identification–social psychological health model: Mediational relationships among team identification, sport fandom, sense of belonging, and meaning in life. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 21, 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000066

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L., & James, J.D. (2019). Sport fans: The psychology and social impact of fandom (2nd ed.). Routledge.

  • Wann, D.L., & Pierce, S. (2005). The relationship between sport team identification and social well-being: Additional evidence supporting the team identification–social psychological health model. North American Journal of Psychology, 7(1), 117–124.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L., Waddill, P.J., Brasher, M., & Ladd, S. (2015). Examining sport team identification, social connections, and social well-being among high school students. Journal of Amateur Sport, 1, 27–50. https://doi.org/10.17161/jas.v0i0.4931

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wann, D.L., Waddill, P.J., Polk, J., & Weaver, S. (2011). The team identification–social psychological health model: Sport fans gaining connections to others via sport team identification. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 15, 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020780

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Yoon, Y., Wang, R., & Jeong, S. (2016). Role of fanship in college satisfaction through using SNS for sports. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 8(3), 23–40.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Yoshida, M., Gordon, B., James, J.D., & Heere, B. (2015). Sport fans and their behavior in fan communities. In K. Kanosue, K. Kogiso, D. Oshimi, & M. Harada (Eds.), Sports management and sports humanities (pp. 89–101). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55324-3_7

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 634 634 69
Full Text Views 118 118 11
PDF Downloads 154 154 13