Motives for participation in prolonged engagement high-risk sports: An agentic emotion regulation perspective

ObjectiveTo explore the agentic emotion regulation function that prolonged engagement high-risk sports (ocean rowing and mountaineering) may serve.DesignIn two studies, a cross-sectional design was employed. In Study 1, ocean rowers were compared to age-matched controls. In Study 2, mountaineers were compared to two control groups, one of which was controlled for the amount of time spent away from home.MethodsIn Study 1, 20 rowers completed measures of alexithymia and interpersonal control before rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. They were also interviewed about the emotional and agentic changes that had occurred as a consequence of completing the ocean row. In Study 2, 24 mountaineers and the two control groups (n = 27 and n = 26) completed measures of alexithymia and interpersonal agency.ResultsIn both studies, high-risk sportspeople had greater difficulty in describing their emotions. The lowest interpersonal agency was in loving partner relationships.ConclusionsParticipants of prolonged engagement high-risk sports have difficulty with their emotions and have particular difficulty feeling emotionally agentic in close relationships. They participate in the high-risk activity with the specific aim of being an agent of their emotions.