COVID-19 Stress Moderates the Mediational Pathway of Fandom Identification on Well-Being through Problem-Focused Coping

Abstract

Ongoing research about the pandemic has shown how stress about COVID-19 and its resulting lockdowns have been detrimental to our collective well-being. Studies on how people cope with stressful situations suggests that problem-focused coping strategies are especially effective, while other studies suggest that people often turn to their social support networks—from families to fan groups—for social support. In the present study we synthesize this research to develop and test a model of moderated mediation, one where fans’ identification with their fandom is associated with greater well-being as mediated by greater use of problem-focused coping strategies. This mediational pathway is predicted to be especially strong for those experiencing the greatest amount of COVID-19-related stress. We test this model in a cross-sectional study of two different samples of fans (N = 374) recruited through online fan websites. Results suggest support for the pathway in the more stigmatized, decentralized of the two fan groups. We discuss the results in the context of research on the COVID-19 pandemic, problem-focused coping, and the association between fandom and well-being, as well as limitations of the present findings and fruitful directions for future research.