“All Along There Was Some Invisible String:” Identity Formation, Relational Dynamics, and Well-Being in the Swiftie Fandom

Authors

Ella Hendricksen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Jordan Soliz

Second Advisor

Allison Bonander

Date of this Version

10-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

Hendricksen, E. (2024). "All Along There was Some Invisible String:" Identity Formation, Relational Dynamics, and Well-Being in the Swiftie Fandom. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comments

Copyright Ella Hendricksen 2024.

Abstract

This thesis explores how membership within the Swiftie fandom impacts self-concept and personal relationships, and how fandom establishes itself in both online and physical spaces. Self-identified Swifties completed an online survey with open-ended questions that included topics related to well-being, belongingness, and individual self-concept. Results of this thesis demonstrate that Swifties experience variability within their fandom, including a strengthened sense of self due to fandom, positive and negative relationship dynamics, and fandom building both on social media and in physical contexts. The results support prior social cure research and demonstrate that Swifties experience the benefits of relating to other group members who share their social identity, potentially at the expense of relationships outside of the fandom. This thesis demonstrates the function of fandom identity and how belongingness impacts both the individual and interpersonal relationships.