Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Gazi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi (Online), cilt.30, sa.4, ss.142-151, 2025 (TRDizin)
This study aimed to investigate the impact of football clubs’ corporate social responsibility
(CSR) activities on fan identification and to evaluate the role of demographic factors as control
variables within this relationship. The research employed a correlational survey model, which
is a quantitative research method. The population consisted of fans of teams in Turkey’s
professional football leagues, with the sample group comprising 446 participants. A power
analysis was conducted to determine this sample size. The data collection instruments were
the Corporate Social Responsibility Scale for Sports Organizations, adapted into Turkish by
Sönmezoğlu et al. (2016), and the Sport Spectator Identification Scale, adapted into Turkish
by Günay and Tiryaki (2003). Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation,
and hierarchical regression analysis. The correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship
only between fan identification and the economic responsibility sub-dimension. Similarly, the
hierarchical regression analysis indicated in Model 1 that this sub-dimension had a significant
and positive effect on identification. Demographic variables were incorporated into Model 2,
and it was observed that the effect of the economic responsibility sub-dimension remained
significant. The frequency of attending matches at the stadium, gender, hometown team
fandom, and age were identified as significant predictors. The findings demonstrate that, in
Turkish football, economic responsibility is a more decisive factor in fan identification
compared to other types of CSR activities, and this effect persists independently of
demographic factors.
Keywords: Corporate social responsibility, Fan identification, Football clubs, Hierarchical
regression