Self-efficacy, risk taking and performance in rock climbing

Self-efficacy may be associated with high risk behaviors in climbers operating at outdoor venues, though little is known about climbers recruited at indoor venues or less risky forms of rock climbing. Two-hundred and one active rock climbers (163 male) aged 16–62 years were recruited at five outdoor and six indoor climbing venues in Britain in a retrospective study. The relationship of self-efficacy to the frequency and difficulty of high and medium risk rock climbing behaviors was modelled using linear regression. Climbers high in self-efficacy engaged in both high and medium risk forms of rock climbing more frequently (β ⩾ 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04–0.32) and at a higher level of difficulty (β ⩾ 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.36). These associations were attenuated slightly with adjustment for covariates, though all remained significant. The same pattern of associations was observed for climbers recruited at indoor and outdoor venues, and for male and female climbers. Rock climbers may therefore participate more frequently, take calculated additional risks and attempt harder climbs when they feel confident in their abilities and are high in self-efficacy. Researchers should not assume psychological or behavioral homogeneity within risk taking populations.