Understanding hikers’ injury-risk behavior: Self-categorization processes and self-presentational tactics

Abstract

Hikers experience physical and psychological benefits but also incur injury. In this mixed-methods study, the relevance of self-categorization theoretical constructs (e.g., group norms, normative pressure) to hikers’ injury-risk behavior are explored via quantitative and qualitative analyses. Appalachian Trail thru-hikers (N = 329; n = 85 women) completed an online survey. They indicated whether they engaged in deliberate risk-taking (i.e., taking a riskier route consisting of a climb up a steep rock face, risking injury if they fell) or precautionary behavior (i.e., taking a less-risky route down a seemingly-flat path) and gave reasons for doing so. Frequencies revealed that 82.7% of participants took the riskier route; per a t-test, hikers who took the less-risky route used significantly (p < .01, d = .60) more words in their reasons. Therefore, deliberate risk-taking represented a behavioral norm because 1) a behavior enacted by the majority of social identity group members tends to reflect group-sanctioned norms, and 2) those who do not engage in the behavioral norm tend to use more embellishment (i.e., more words) to defend their deviation. A latent content analysis of reasons identified six group norms (e.g., morality, status) relevant to taking the riskier route and six (e.g., practicality, non-conformity) that were asserted by those who took the less-risky route. Per two themes, hierarchical self-categorizations informed injury-risk behaviors, and social creativity countered normative pressure to engage in deliberate risk-taking. This research provides evidence that injury-prevention interventions for hikers may address theory-based group factors rather than individual risk factors.

Management implications

This mixed-methods study provides recreational professionals who support long-distance hikers with an understanding of group norms that influence hikers’ decisions to engage in behaviors that lead to injuries. This can inform injury-prevention efforts to:

• 1.
  target groups rather than individual hikers
• 2.
  be administered where group identity is relevant (e.g., posting information at trail kiosks and shelters rather than online)
• 3.
  incorporate group norms associated with less risk of injury (e.g., intelligence, non-conformity) and use of safer trail routes
• 4.
  alter signage at injury-risk locations, and
• 5.
  involve prominent members of hiking communities (e.g., successful thru-hikers).