Gender differences in leisure involvement and flow experience in professional extreme sport activities

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aims to investigate the relationship between leisure involvement and flow experience in extreme sport activities. The subjects were 225 extreme sport participants. The result suggested that extreme sport participants with a higher level of leisure involvement tend to experience a higher level of flow, and there is a significant difference in terms of gender. Leisure involvement has a stronger effect on the level of flow experience in male participants, while the factors of “centrality to lifestyle” and “self-expression” have statistically significant influences on the flow experience of female participants. The findings of this study provide references to extreme sport industries and related agencies concerning leisure behaviours, involvement and leisure experiences of extreme sport participants.