PTSD and sports fandom: a pilot study

Abstract

The present study is a first attempt to understand the phenomenon of fandom from the perspective of fans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The need for special consideration of this population stems from the conditions—(e.g. light or loud noise) typical in football stadiums that might highlight their difficulties and trigger negative reactions. For this purpose, we identified and interviewed nine football fans, all of whom suffer from PTSD. The analysis of the interviews suggested three main themes: benefits of football fandom for individuals with PTSD, a change in fandom practices caused by the development of the disorder and its diagnosis, and participants’ coping strategies. Finally, suggestions for further research are discussed.

Keywords:

• PTSD
• sports fans
• football
• Israel
• pilot study

Acknowledgments

We want to express our gratitude to Aviv Yemini and Hadar Kuperman for their assistance in gathering the data and developing the research objective.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Notes

1 A military operation launched by Israel on 8 July 2014 in the Gaza Strip.

2 The term lone soldier, which is a translation of the Hebrew term, means a soldier who does not have family in Israel or any other support system.