Acta Gymnica e2026.009 | DOI: 10.5507/ag.2026.009

Fan behavior in childhood: Age and gender differences at 10 and 14 years

Ivan Šerbetar
Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Background: Engagement in youth sports can enhance feelings of belonging and identity, although in certain environments, it may also promote hostile behaviors. The late childhood and early adolescence stages are crucial periods when social identity dynamics and peer influences determine how fandom is demonstrated.

Objective: To examine age- and gender-related differences in fan behaviors among Croatian primary school children.

Methods: In a cross-sectional school survey, 222 students (101 boys, 121 girls) from fourth grade (age ~10 years) and eighth grade (~14 years) completed the Croatian version of the Fan Behavior Questionnaire (three 8-item scales; α = .78-.89). Group differences were tested using a two-way multivariate analysis of variance (age × gender) followed by univariate tests; because the Box's M test was significant, Pillai's Trace was used.

Results: The multivariate model showed significant effects of age and gender, as well as a significant age × gender interaction. In practical terms, boys reported stronger supportive/positive behaviors and stronger emotional reactions to matches, and they also endorsed more negative fan behaviors. Older children reported slightly higher negative behavior than younger, whereas age-related differences in positive behavior and emotionality varied by gender, with larger gender differences observed among the 10-year-olds.

Conclusions: Boys showed stronger fan engagement across positive, emotional, and negative domains, and negative behavior was higher in early adolescence compared to late childhood. These findings suggest that late childhood and early adolescence may represent an important developmental period during which family- and school-based norms can promote supportive cheering, empathy, and self-control.

Keywords: youth sport fandom, fan behavior, social identity, gender differences

Received: September 9, 2025; Revised: July 21, 2026; Accepted: August 25, 2026; Prepublished online: August 25, 2026; Published online: September 15, 2026  Show citation

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Šerbetar, I. (2026). Fan behavior in childhood: Age and gender differences at 10 and 14 years. Acta Gymnica, 56, Article e2026.009. https://doi.org/10.5507/ag.2026.009
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