Authors: End, Christian¹; Davis, Michael²; Kretschmar, Jeff³; Campbell, Jamonn⁴; Mueller, David⁵; Worthman, Shaye¹

Source: Sociological Spectrum, Volume 29, Number 5, September 2009 , pp. 649-658(10)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

The current investigation attempted to replicate and extend Nelson and Weschler's (2003) research that indicated that college student sport fans were more likely to report problematic alcohol usage and more negative alcohol-related experiences in comparison to nonfans. In addition to utilizing the original study's operational definition of fan (spectator-based), 323 college students were categorized according to more traditional measures of fandom, specifically levels of fan and team identification. Contrary to the previous research, the results indicated that fans' and nonfans' alcohol usage and experiences of negative alcohol-related events were not significantly different. Additionally, both forms of identification (fan and team) failed to predict problematic alcohol usage and negative alcohol-related experiences. Although the results were unaffected by the operational definitions of fan, distinguishing certain subgroups of fans may be important in regards to clarifying and advancing our understanding of the potential relationship between sport and alcohol usage. These distinctions could guide efforts to reduce problematic alcohol usage.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02732170903051441

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA 2: Department of Economics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, USA 3: Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA 4: Department of Psychology, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, USA 5: Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Publication date: 2009-09-01

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