Sport Fandom and Post-Event Memories: An Examination of Negative and Positive Rumination in Sport Fans

Authors

• Jordan Marie Pearsall, Murray State UniversityFollow
• Daniel L. Wann, Murray State University
• Xavier Brown, Murray State University
• Patrick Cushen, Murray State University

Abstract

Rumination is generally thought of as a negative thought pattern, in which thoughts are unwanted and cyclical in nature, and become more negative over time (Abbott & Rapee, 2004; Rachman et al., 2000). In Study 1, we examined the relationship between negative post-event rumination and sport fandom. We found that dysfunctional sport fandom was significantly and positively correlated with negative post-event rumination. Dysfunctional sport fans are those who are aggressive (Castleman et al., 2020; Wann et al., 2023), outspoken, and confrontational (Wakefield & Wann, 2006). In Study 2, we extended this work by examining the relationship between team identification and positive post-event rumination (i.e., thoughts that are cyclical and intrusive in nature, but that focus on positive outcomes like winning). We found that highly identified fans were more likely to positively ruminate on games and players.

Recommended Citation

Pearsall, Jordan Marie; Wann, Daniel L.; Brown, Xavier; and Cushen, Patrick (2025) "Sport Fandom and Post-Event Memories: An Examination of Negative and Positive Rumination in Sport Fans," Journal of Sport Behavior: Vol. 48: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/journalofsportbehavior/vol48/iss2/5