A Comparative Study of Pre-Match Anxiety Among Team Sports and Individual Sports Fans

Abstract

This study aims to examine differences in pre-match anxiety between fans of team sports and fans of individual sports, and to explore how interpersonal identification processes (team identification vs. parasocial closeness to an athlete) moderate those differences. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from social identity theory and parasocial interaction literature, I hypothesise that, on average, team sports fans will report higher pre-match anxiety than individual sports fans, owing to the collective identity stakes, social evaluation pressures, and communal emotional investment inherent in team fandom. However, I also hypothesise that among individual sports fans, those with stronger parasocial closeness to their favourite athlete will exhibit anxiety levels comparable to highly identified team sports fans. To test these hypotheses, I will recruit a target sample of N ≈ 200 sports fans (balanced between team and individual sport supporters, divided among different sports). Participants will complete validated scales measuring (a) pre-match state anxiety (adapted to the sport context), (b) team identification (for team sport fans), (c) parasocial closeness/athlete identification (for individual sport fans), and (d) control variables (e.g. general trait anxiety, frequency of watching, length of fandom, self-identified importance of the match/contest). I plan to analyse group mean differences (team vs. individual) and conduct moderation analyses to test whether parasocial closeness interacts with sport type to predict anxiety. If supported, results would suggest that the social identity burden intrinsic to team fandom intensifies pre-match anxiety, while strong parasocial bonds within individual sports can partially bridge the emotional intensity gap. Findings would contribute to sport psychology theory by linking identification processes to anticipatory emotional states in fandom, and may have practical value for understanding fan stress and coping strategies.