Relationship between generativity, group identification and willingness to watch a professional baseball game at a stadium, in middle-aged and older Chunichi Dragons fans.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between generativity, group identification with Chunichi Dragons（CD）, a professional baseball team in Japan, and willingness to watch a professional baseball game at a stadium, in middle-aged and older CD fans. An online survey was conducted and data from 601 fans（453 men, 146 women, and 2 others; average age 54.48±7.85 years）living in three Tokai prefectures（Aichi, Gifu, and Mie）were collected. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that generativity was positively related to group identification with CD, and group identification with CD was associated with willingness to watch a professional baseball game at a stadium, but the association of generativity with willingness to watch a baseball game at a stadium was not significant. For middle-aged and older CD fans, it was suggested that the development of generativity did not directly promote game-watching willingness, but might influence professional baseball-watching willingness through the enhancement of group identification.