An investigation of the effects of sensation seeking and impulsivity on extreme sport participation and injury using path analysis

Abstract

Objective Extreme sport participation and injury rates have increased in recent decades. This study aimed to investigate sub-dimensions of impulsivity and sensation seeking that contribute to participation and injury risk in extreme sports. Participants Data included cross-sectional survey responses from 7,109 college students (Mage = 19.68, SD = 2.31). Methods This study utilized path analysis to investigate sub-dimensions of sensation seeking and impulsivity as predictors of extreme sport participation and injury across 3 models. Results Results of the final model identify risk seeking and lack of perseverance as the two strongest predictors of extreme sports injury, risk seeking, experience seeking, and lack of premeditation as the strongest positive predictors of extreme sports participation, and lack of perseverance as the strongest negative predictor of extreme sports participation. Conclusions These results will contribute to targeted prevention and intervention efforts for extreme sports injury among young adults based on identified individual personality factors.