Risk perception, injury rate and sensation seeking tendency in sandstone climbing

Abstract

Sandstone climbing is a specific discipline of rock climbing in which a high degree of objective risk appears when leading a route. This affects the climber’s psyche, safety and sport performance itself. This is accompanied by a specific experience with ambivalent feelings and serious security risks. The aim of the study is to analyse the incidence of accidents in relation to the perception of risk and the sensation seeking tendency (SST). The research sample consists of 33 deliberately selected lead climbers. A questionnaire survey was used. 24 % of climbers experienced injury, 60 % of those injured did not change their further perception of risk and all returned to climbing again. Some of them mentally stronger, some more cautious. The perception of risk has been shown to be different from the perception of fear. 48.5% of climbers feel fear, while 88% feel the risk of falling. They also feel euphoria, happiness, a sense of satisfaction from overcoming limits, feelings of certainty and uncertainty. The level of sensation seeking tendency for the climbers is 24.6 in the total SST score. The perception of risk and the associated injury rate in sandstone climbing proved to be specific, and in some aspects incomparable to sport climbing. The method of belaying and the associated demands on the climber’s mental and physical fitness point to the uniqueness of this discipline. It requires separate attention.