Abstract
Extreme sport participation has grown exponentially in recent years, yet the underlying motivations for engaging in high-risk activities remain complex and not fully understood. Extreme sports are defined as those where a mismanaged mistake can lead to serious injury or death. While research has explored the psychological and motivational factors influencing participation, there has been no integrated discussion encompassing the diverse motives across different extreme sports and skill levels.The broad aim of this thesis was to advance understanding of what motivates individuals to participate in extreme sports from a wider, integrated perspective. To achieve this, three empirical chapters are presented.
Chapter Three aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of existing research by systematically reviewing and consolidating studies examining the motives for extreme sport participation. Reviewed study findings were categorized into five overarching themes: (1) Existential and External Factors (e.g., connection to nature and external reasons for participation), (2) Personality Traits (e.g., sensation seeking and stable characteristics that predict participation), (3) Motivational Characteristics (e.g., confidence and constructs from self-determination theory), (4) Risk Management (e.g., explanations centred around risk-taking, experiential vs. analytical approaches), and (5) Analogies with Addiction and Withdrawal (e.g., craving and behavioural responses when unable to participate).
Building on this, Chapter Four explored the motivations of elite extreme athletes by interviewing high-level athletes across different extreme sports. Athletes reflected on their participation at different time points (pre, during, and post participation), providing a deeper understanding of their motives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 high level extreme sport athletes (6 female, 11 male) across various disciplines, climbing (n=9), downhill mountain biking (n=3), wingsuit/BASE jumping (n=3), surfing (n=1), and freestyle skiing (n=1). Thematic analysis identified five key themes: (1) Being Outdoors (2) Motivation (aligned with self-determination theory), (3) Risk Management and Thrill (individual differences in risk perception), (4) Analogies with Addiction (feelings of loss when not participating), and (5) Personal Factors (personality traits and psychological states).
Finally, Chapter Five examined the factors predicting participation in extreme versus non-extreme sports and whether skill level influences motivation within extreme sports. A total of 109 extreme sport participants and 89 non-extreme sport participants completed an online survey. Results, analysed using binary logistic regression, revealed significant differences in motivation. Extreme sports participants were primarily driven by emotion regulation and agency, whereas non extreme sport participants reported a stronger connection to nature. Additionally, within extreme sports, advanced and elite-level athletes exhibited lower craving tendencies, suggesting that as experience increases, reliance on risk-induced positive reinforcement diminishes.
Overall, this thesis highlights the multifaceted and subjective nature of extreme sport motivation, demonstrating that risk-taking is not the sole driver, but rather part of a complex interplay of psychological, experiential, and personality-related factors. These findings represent a significant advancement in the understanding of extreme sport participation and highlight multiple areas for future research.
| Date of Award | 28 Nov 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | David Shearer (Supervisor), Gareth Roderique-Davies (Supervisor) & Robert Heirene (Supervisor) |