When Spectator Sport Well-Being is Diminished: The Effects of Spectator Dysfunctional Behavior and Anger Moderated by Self-Construal

Abstract

The purposes of the study are to examine how spectator dysfunctional behavior (SDB) influences spectator sport well-being (SSWB) via anger and how self-construal (i.e., independence vs. interdependence) moderates the relationships among SDB, anger, and SSWB. Two studies based on a scenario-based survey experiment are conducted. Study 1 uses a cross-cultural study (the U.S. vs. South Korea) to examine chronical self-construal. Study 2 applies a self-construal priming method to examine temporal effects of self-construal. The two studies report the significant mediating effect of anger between SDB and SSWB. The relationships between SDB and anger, and between SDB and SSWB are stronger in interdependent self-construal than independent self-construal. Study 2 further shows that anger influences independent individuals more strongly than interdependent counterparts in relation to SSWB. This article contributes the literature on sport spectatorship and consumer well-being by showing how sport spectatorship might impinge on consumer well-being. The illustrating of the moderating roles of self-construal offers theoretical insight into the intricate associations among SDB, anger, and SSWB.