Are perceived comparative risks realistic among high-risk sports participants?

摘要

This poper examined how risk sports practitioners, compared with those of theaverage sports participant, perceive their abilities to manage risks (AMR) and theirvulnerability to a serious injury (VSI) whilst participating. We also examined whichvariables influence perceived comparative VSI. High-risk and moderate-risk sportsparticiponts (n = 432) completed measures of perceived personal AMR, perceivedcomparative AMR and VSI, and motive of playing to the limit. Results showed thathigh-risk sports practitioners perceived their VSI as being higher than the averagesports participant, while moderate-risk practitioners perceived their VSI as beinglower. Perceived comparative VSI was negatively related to perceived personolAMR and positively related to past injury episode, sporting experience, and playingto the limit. In conclusion, perceived comparative risks were similarly realisticamongst high-risk sports practitioners. Future research is needed to further examinethe role that perceived comparative risks play in the risk-taking decision-makingprocess.