The Dimensions of Superstitious Beliefs and Behaviors: A Descriptive Quantitative Study on Soccer Fans in Turkey

The study aims to put forward the superstitious beliefs and behaviors among soccer fans before and during the games. However, there are valuable insights about athletes superstitious behaviors and beliefs, there's no or a little research examining sport fans' beliefs of superstition. In this study the researchers attempts to address this gap by examining the role of superstitions among soccer fans. It explores what are the superstitious beliefs of soccer fans and which behaviors they employ in their games or game days. A questionnaire was developed incorporating items to reveal the superstitious beliefs and behaviors of soccer fans. After conducting factor analysis to express the factors to explain the soccer fans superstitious beliefs and behaviors, five factors revealed and named 'lucky behaviors', 'totems', 'bad luck beliefs', 'lucky items' and 'ignore'. The results can be interests of sport psychologists and managers. Because identifying soccer fans superstitious beliefs and behavior is important for understanding soccer fans superstitious rituals especially on game days.