University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Promoting eudaimonic well-being through team identification among distant fans: The mediating role of social support

Cho, Honglae

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120421

Description

Title
Promoting eudaimonic well-being through team identification among distant fans: The mediating role of social support
Author(s)
Cho, Honglae
Issue Date
2023-05-03
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Sato, Mikihiro
Committee Member(s)
Stodolska, Monika
Department of Study
Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Discipline
Recreation, Sport, and Tourism
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
  • Social identity approach
  • Team identification
  • Eudaimonic well-being
  • Health
  • Social support
  • Distant fans
Abstract
While sport management scholars have described the relationship between team identification and well-being among local fans, little research has been done on the mechanism whereby team identification improves well-being among distant fans. Using a social identity approach, this study investigates the mediating role of social support in the association between team identification and eudaimonic well-being among distant fans. The study surveyed 497 U.S.- based distant fans of the English Premier League club and conducted mediation analysis using PROCESS macro-Version 4.2. This study found that team identification produces social support among distant fans, and social support positively predicts eudaimonic well-being. Furthermore, social support was found to play a mediating role in the relationship between team identification and eudaimonic well-being. These findings demonstrate that distant fans can gain psychological benefits from identifying with a foreign sport team even despite not being physically present at sporting events. Therefore, this study suggests that professional sport teams could contribute to the improvement of distant fans’ well-being, regardless of their geographical location.
Graduation Semester
2023-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120421
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2023 Honglae Cho

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