Dusko Bjelica¹, Stevo Popovic¹, Rasid Hadzic¹, Ivan Vasiljevic¹

¹Univerzitet Crne Gore, Fakultet za sport i fizičko vaspitanje (Nikšić, Crna Gora)

ATTITUDES OF SPORTS FANS IN MONTENEGRO TOWARD NATIONAL IDENTITY AMONG THEIR AGES

STAVOVI SPORTSKIH NAVIJAČA U CRNOJ GORI PREMA NACIONALNOM IDENTITETU U ODNOSU NA UZRAST

Sport Mont 2014, XII(40-41-42), 10-16

Abstract

Introduction: It is widely known that sport and national identity have been strongly connected through entire history. An individual sportsmen or a national sport team may represent a certain group of people united around a single goal or the same ideas (Popovic & Bjelica, 2013). Hence, they, accompanied with the sports fans, represent an entire nation and foster a sense of national pride amongst members of a given nation (Bogdanov, 2011). Consequently, this research was aimed at gaining relevant knowledge about the attitudes of sports fans that constantly attend the matches of national team toward national identity, mostly due to the reason the authors of this research believed that it could vary according to their ages. Methods: The sample included 669 respondents who have been divided into six subgroups: younger than 20 years old (n=326), 20-30 years old (n=203), 30-40 years old (n=46), 40-50 years old (n=30), 50-60 years old (n=42) as well as sports fans who were older than 60 years old (n=22). The sample of variables consisted of 19 items, and the subjects were evaluated it by a seven-point Likert scale. Regarding the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics and Two-sample Hotelling's T-Square test were employed. Results: Based on the results it was concluded that significant differences occurred between sport fans who are older than 60 year old (M±SD=4.72±1.10) and all other groups, except those who are 40-50 years old (M±SD=4.49±1.48). On the other hand, the significant differences were also occurred between sport fans who are 50-60 year old (M±SD=4.45±1.39) and those who are 20-30 years old (M±SD=4.39±1.44) and those who are younger than 20 years old (M±SD=4.42±1.17). Discussion: It is the fact, judging from some evidence from the previous literature, that sport is well positioned when we talk about the development of national identity (cited in Popovic and Bjelica, 2013). Consequently, the achievements of national sports teams and organization of major sports events can increase it, while this study recognized stronger affiliation of the subjects who are older to its nation. Although sport is not only one factor that can influence national identity, according to the results of this study the tendency of national strategies must be much more focused on strengthening self-esteem and national pride of young population. References: Popović S, Bjelica D (2013). Sport Mont, 37-39, 61-66. Bogdanov D (2011). Influence of National Sport Team Identity on National Identity. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation. Tallahassee, FL: The Florida State University.

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