Emotional changes in skydivers in relation to experience

Abstract

The nature of the change in emotional experience from before to after a skydiving jump is examined in relation to the experience of the skydiver. The relationship between emotional experience, personality variables, and an addiction construct, is also examined. The results indicate an experience based shift in the change of emotion from pre-jump to post-jump. Novice skydivers ( N = 29) experience much greater emotional contrast from pre-jump to post-jump than more experienced skydivers ( N = 34) who are much more stable. Skydivers with intermediate experience ( N = 42) lie between these extremes. Greater “addiction” to skydiving is strongly associated with greater experience and is uniquely predicted from a lower level of anxiety before the impending jump. Results are discussed in relation to the findings of Celsi, Rose, and Leigh (1993).