Sports Fandom and Relationships: Perceptions of a significant other’s favorite sport team
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Jana Hackathorn
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Past studies have shown that similarities between couples relate to higher levels of attraction (Bryne, Clore, & Smeaton, 1986). Other studies have shown that couples who watch sports together have higher relationship satisfaction than couples that don't (Roloff and Solomon, 1989). Due to these past findings, the researchers formed a hypothesis: People who perceive their partners as having the same favorite team will view them differently than those who perceive their partners having a different favorite team on different relationship satisfaction qualities. A convenient sample of 108 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university were surveyed regarding their fandom level, their favorite team, their significant other's perceived favorite team, and measures regarding their relationship. We found that, overall, participants who perceived their partners as having the same favorite team viewed their partners as more intelligent and more attractive. However, differences in general relationship satisfaction was not significant.
Location
Ohio Room, Curris Center
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Sports Fandom and Relationships: Perceptions of a significant other’s favorite sport team
Ohio Room, Curris Center
Past studies have shown that similarities between couples relate to higher levels of attraction (Bryne, Clore, & Smeaton, 1986). Other studies have shown that couples who watch sports together have higher relationship satisfaction than couples that don't (Roloff and Solomon, 1989). Due to these past findings, the researchers formed a hypothesis: People who perceive their partners as having the same favorite team will view them differently than those who perceive their partners having a different favorite team on different relationship satisfaction qualities. A convenient sample of 108 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university were surveyed regarding their fandom level, their favorite team, their significant other's perceived favorite team, and measures regarding their relationship. We found that, overall, participants who perceived their partners as having the same favorite team viewed their partners as more intelligent and more attractive. However, differences in general relationship satisfaction was not significant.