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Non-invasive Assessments of Subjective and Objective Recovery Characteristics Following an Exhaustive Jump Protocol
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Exploring jump experience, risk perception, anxiety and self-confidence in skydiving: A mixed methods approach
Dominic G McNeil1, Michael Fell2, Natasha M Loi2
1Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia. Victoria, Australia.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise
|April 25, 2024
Summary
As skydiving experience increases, skydivers gain self-confidence, which helps them manage anxiety and risk perception. This enhanced self-assurance is key to successfully navigating the challenges of extreme sports.
Area of Science:
- Psychology of extreme sports
- Human factors in aviation
- Sport psychology
Background:
- Skydivers must manage internal (fear, anxiety) and external (equipment) challenges.
- Increased skydiving experience correlates with higher self-confidence and lower risk perception/anxiety.
- Limited research exists on experience's influence on performance considerations in extreme sports.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how skydiving experience impacts risk perception, anxiety, and self-confidence.
- To explore the relationship between experience, self-confidence, and anxiety in skydivers.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods approach with 503 experienced Australian skydivers.
- Quantitative measures of risk perception, anxiety, and self-confidence.
- Qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended questions on skydiving experiences.
Main Results:
- Jumping experience positively influenced self-confidence.
- Self-confidence mediated the relationship between experience and both cognitive and somatic anxiety.
- Skydivers demonstrated awareness of risks and employed strategies to enhance self-confidence and manage anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Self-confidence is a crucial factor in skydivers' ability to manage anxiety and risk.
- Skydivers develop adaptive strategies to foster mastery and successful performance.
- Further research is needed on person-context interactions in extreme sports performance.
Keywords:
Cognitive anxietyEcological psychologyRisk perceptionSelf-confidenceSkydivingSomatic anxietyMore Related Videos
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