Mountaineering- A Study on Sensation Seeking and Death Anxiety

Abstract

Mountaineering includes high levels of sensation and death anxiety according to the way it is done. The level of risk in mountaineering affects the pursuit of sensation and death anxiety. In this research, it was aimed to examine the sensation seeking and death anxiety experienced by mountaineers. The population of the research consisted of mountaineers in Turkey, and the sample consisted of 516 (376 men, 140 women) athletes selected by random sampling method. The Turkish Death Anxiety scale developed by Sarikaya (2013) and the Sensation-Seeking scale developed by Hoyle et al., (2002) and adapted into Turkish by Çelik and Turan (2016) were used as data collection tools. Data were collected online and face-to-face during the climbs. Independent Sample t test, Anova and Correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data. For mountaineers, sensation seeking and death anxiety emerged as a determining factor. Thrill seeking levels are above average. In general, mountaineers have a low level of death anxiety. Only winter climbers have moderate death anxiety. A low level of positive correlation was found between sensation seeking and death anxiety. Excessive excitement seeking and high death anxiety can cause mistakes while climbing. It is recommended that athletes do not perform activities above their own skills, abilities and experiences.

Keywords

• Mountaineering
• Sensation-seeking
• Death anxiety

Dağcılık- Heyecan Arayışı ve Ölüm Kaygısı Üzerine Bir İnceleme

Öz

Dağcılık yapılış biçimine göre yüksek seviyede heyecan ve ölüm kaygısı içermektedir. Dağcılık sporunda var olan risk seviyesi heyecan arayışını ve ölüm kaygısını etkilemektedir. Araştırmada, dağcılık sporu yapanların heyecan arayışları ve yaşadıkları ölüm kaygısının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın evrenini Türkiye’deki dağcılar, örneklemini ise rastgele örneklem yöntemi ile seçilmiş toplamda 516 (376 erkek, 140 kadın) sporcu oluşturmuştur. Veri toplama araçları olarak Sarıkaya (2013) tarafından geliştirilen Türkçe Ölüm Kaygısı ölçeği ile Hoyle vd., (2002) tarafından geliştirilen, Çelik ve Turan (2016) tarafından Türkçe’ ye uyarlanan Heyecan Arayışı ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Veriler online ve tırmanışlar sırasında yüz yüze toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Independent Sample t test, Anova ve Korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, dağcılar için heyecan arayışı ve ölüm kaygısı belirleyici bir unsur olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Heyecan arayış düzeyleri ortalamanın üzerindedir. Genel olarak dağcılar düşük düzeyde ölüm kaygısı duymaktadır. Sadece kış tırmanışı yapanların ölüm kaygısı orta düzeydedir. Heyecan arayışı ile ölüm kaygısı arasında düşük seviyede pozitif ilişki saptanmıştır. Aşırı heyecan arayışı ve yüksek ölüm kaygısı tırmanış sırasında hata yapılmasına neden olabilir. Sporcuların özellikle kendi beceri, yetenek ve deneyimlerinin üstünde faaliyetler yapmaması önerilmektedir. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dağcılık
• Heyecan arayışı
• Ölüm kaygısı

Kaynakça

1. Apollo, M. (2017). The true accessibility of mountaineering: the case of the High Himalaya. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 17, 29-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2016.12.001
2. Attarian, A. (2002). Managing groups at climbing sites. Poff, R., Guthrie, S., Kafsky-DeGarmo, J., Stenger, T., Taylor, W. (eds.), Proceedings of the 16th annual international conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, (24-31 October, Charleston, USA) “Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future” (20-27), Adelaide: AORE publications.
3. Balta, Ş. N. (2020). Genç yetişkin bireylerin bilişsel esneklik düzeylerinin, ölüm kaygısı düzeyleri ve mutluluk düzeylerine etkisinin incelenmesi. Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Psikoloji Ana Bilim Dalı, İstanbul.
4. Backe, S., Ericson, L., Janson, S., & Timpka, T. (2009). Rock climbing injury rates and associated risk factors in a general climbing population. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 19(6), 850-856. https://doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00851.x
5. Beedie, P., & Hudson, S. (2003). Emergence of mountain-based adventure tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 30(3), 625-643. https://doi:10.1016/S0160-7383(03)00043-4
6. Beşikçi, T. (2016). Macera rekreasyonunda heyecan arayışı, serbest zaman motivasyonu ve serbest zaman tatmini arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi: Çok hafif hava araçları (ÇHHA) pilot örneği. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Rekreasyon Ana Bilim Dalı, Manisa.
7. Bentley, T. A., & Page, S. J. (2001). Scoping the extent of adventure tourism accidents. Annals of Tourism Research, 28(3), 705-726. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(00)00058-X
8. Breivik, G. (1996). Personality, sensation seeking and risk taking among Everest climbers. International Journal of Sport Psychology, (27), 308-320.

9. Brymer, E., & Oades, L. G. (2009). Extreme sports: A positive transformation in courage and humility. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49(1), 114-126. https://doi. org/10.1177/0022167808326199
10. Broadhurst, R. (2001). Managing environments for leisure and recreation. Taylor & Francis Group.
11. Brown, C. (2014). Sherpas: The invisible men of Everest. National Geographic.
12. Brustia, R., Enrione, G., Catuzzo, B., Cavoretto, L., Pesenti Campagnoni, M., Visetti, E., ... & RESAMONT 2 Project Group. (2016). Results of a prospective observational study on mountaineering emergencies in western alps: Mind your head. High altitude medicine & biology, 17(2), 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2015.0110
13. Cater, C. I. (2006). Playing with risk? Participant perceptions of risk and management implications in adventure tourism. Tourism Management, 27(2), 317–325. https://doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2004.10.005
14. Çelik, E., & Turan, M. E. (2016). A study on the psychometric features of the Turkish version of the brief sensation seeking scale (BSSS-8) for young adults and the relation between sensation seeking and life satisfaction. International Journal of Educational Research Review, (1)1, 29-39. https://doi.org/10.24331/ijere.309959
15. Ewert, A., & Hollenhorst, S. (1989). Testing the adventure model: empirical support for a model of risk recreation participation. Journal of Leisure Research, 21(2), 124-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.1989.11969794
16. Fave, A. Bassi, M. ve Massimini, F. (2003). Quality of experience and risk perception in high-altitude rock climbing. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, (15), 82-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200305402
17. Franken, I. H., Zijlstra, C., & Muris, P. (2006). Are nonpharmacological induced rewards related to anhedonia? A study among skydivers. Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 30(2), 297-300. https://doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2005.10.011
18. Garrow, S., & Walker, J.A. (2001). Existential group therapy and death anxiety. Adultspan Journal, 3(2), 77-87. https://doi:10.1002/j.2161-0029.2001.tb00109.x
19. Gerdes, E. M., Hafner, J. W., & Aldag, J. C. (2006). Injury patterns and safety practices of rock climbers. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 61(6), 1517-1525. https://doi: 10.1097/01.ta.0000209402.40864.b2
20. Griffith, J.D., Toms, A., Reese, J., Hamel, M., Gu, L.L., & Hart, C.L. (2013). Attitudes toward dying and death: A comparison of recreational groups among older men. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 67(4), 379-391. https://doi:10.2190/OM.67.4.c
21. Goma i Freixanet, M., Martha, C., & Muro, A. (2012). Does the sensation-seeking trait differ among participants engaged in sports with different levels of physical risk? Anales De Psicologia, 28(1), 223-232.
22. Graydon, D., & Hanson, K. (2010). Zirvelerin Özgürlüğü (Çev: T. Fındık). Homer Yayımcılık.
23. Guszkowska, M. & Boldak, A. (2010). Sensation Seeking in Males Involved in Recreational High Risk Sports. Biology of Sport. 27(3), 157-162.
24. Gürer, B. (2015). The investigation of problem solving skill of the mountaineers in terms of demographic variables. Educational Research and Reviews, 10(11), 1496-1504. https://doi: 10.5897/ERR2015.2129
25. Gürer, B. (2017). The Research About Reasons of Mountaineers' attend to Ice Climbing and Its Effects on Their Self-Confidence. European Journal of Education Studies. 3(8), 501-515. https://doi: 10.5281/zenodo.84178
26. Gürer, B. (2019). Buz Tırmanışı Yapan Dağcıların Yaşam Kalitesinin İncelenmesi. Spor Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 25-34. https://doi: 10.25307/jssr.553947
27. Gürer, B., & Kılınç, Z. (2019). Doğa sporları yapanların temel psikolojik ihtiyaçlarının zihinsel dayanıklılığa etkisi. CBÜ Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 14(2), 222-233. https://doi:10.33459/cbubesbd.576242
28. Gürer, B., Ünal, S., Arıkan, V. (2020). Doğa Sporları Yapan Bireylerin Genel Öz Yeterliliklerinin Problem Çözme Becerisine Etkisi. Spormetre Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 18(2), 13-26. https://doi.org/10.33689/spormetre.549729
29. Gürer, B. & Biçer, M. (2021). Doğa sporları ile uğraşan bireylerin sakatlığa bağlı kaygı düzeylerinin incelenmesi. Journal of Social and Humanities Sciences Research, 8(68), 823-830. manities Sciences Research, 8(68), 823-830. https://doi.org/10.26450/jshsr.2390
30. Holm, M. R., Lugosi, P., Croes, R. R., & Torres, E. N. (2017). Risk-tourism, risk-taking and subjective well-being: A review and synthesis. Tourism Management, (63), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.06.004
31. Hoyle, R. H., Stephenson, M. T., Palmgreen, P., Lorch, E. P., & Donohew, R. L. (2002). Reliability and validity of a brief measure of sensation seeking. Personality and individual differences, 32(3), 401-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00032-0
32. Huey, R. B., Salisbury, R., Wang, J. L., & Mao, M. (2007). Effects of age and gender on success and death of mountaineers on Mount Everest. Biology Letters, 3(5), 498-500. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0317
33. Jack, S. J., & Ronan, K. R. (1998). Sensation seeking among high and low risk sports participants. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(6), 1063-1083. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00081-6
34. Johnston, B. R., & Edwards, T. (1994). The commodification of mountaineering. Annals of Tourism Research, 21(3), 459-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(94)90114-7
35. Kajtna, T., Tusak, M., Baric, R., & Burnik, S. (2004). Personality in high-risk sports athletes. Kinesiology, 36(1), 24-34.
36. Karakuş, G., Öztürk, Z., & Tamam, L. (2012). Death and death anxiety. Arşiv Kaynak Tarama Dergisi, 21(1), 42-79.
37. Kane, M. J., & Tucker, H. (2004). Adventure tourism: The freedom to play with reality. Tourist studies, 4(3), 217-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797604057323
38. Kayes, D. C. (2004). The 1996 Mount Everest climbing disaster: The breakdown of learning in teams. Human Relations, 57(10), 1263-1284. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726704048355.
39. Lee, T., & Crompton, J. (1992). Measuring novelty seeking in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 19(4), 732-751. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(92)90064-V
40. Lepp, A., & Gibson, H. (2008). Sensation seeking and tourism: Tourist role, perception of risk and destination choice. Tourism Management, 29(4), 740-750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2007.08.002
41. Long, J. (2010). How to rock climb! Rowman & Littlefield.
42. Lupton, D., & Tulloch, J. (2002). 'Life would be pretty dull without risk': voluntary risk-taking and its pleasures. Health, Risk & Society, 4(2), 113-124. https://doi: 10.1080/13698570220137015
43. Miles, J. (1978). The value of high adventure activities. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, 19(4), 27-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/00971170.1978.10618842
44. Miller, M. C., & Mair, H. (2020). Between space and place in mountaineering: navigating risk, death, and power. Tourism Geographies, 22(2), 354-369. https://doi: 10.1080/14616688.2019.1654538
45. Pomfret, G. (2011). Package mountaineer tourists holidaying in the French Alps: An evaluation of key influences encouraging their participation. Tourism Management, 32(3), 501-510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.04.001
46. Robinson, D. W. (1992). A descriptive model of enduring risk recreation involvement. Journal of Leisure Research, 24(1), 52-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.1992.11969871
47. Rossi, B., & Cereatti, L. (1993). The sensation seeking scale in mountain athletes as assessed by Zuckerman’s sensation seeking scale. International Journal of Sports Psychology, (24), 417-431.
48. Sarıkaya, Y. (2013). Ölüm Kaygısı Ölçeği Geliştirilmesi: Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması. Yayımlanmamış Yüksek lisans Tezi, Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Eğitim Bilimleri Ana Bilim Dalı, Tokat.
49. Sarıkaya, Y., & Baloğlu, M. (2016). The development and psychometric properties of the Turkish death anxiety scale (TDAS). Death studies, 40(7), 419-431. https://doi: 10.1080/07481187.2016.1158752
50. Swarbrooke, J., Beard, C., Leckie, S., & Pomfret, G. (2003). Adventure tourism: The new frontier. Routledge.
51. Tepe, F. (2020). Varoluşsal bir sorun olarak ölüm kaygısının çeşitli değişkenler açısından incelenmesi Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Biruni Üniversitesi, Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü, Rehberlik ve Psikolojik Danışmanlık Ana Bilim Dalı, İstanbul.
52. Tougne, J., Paty, B., Meynard, D., Martin, J.M., Letellier, T., Rosnet, E. (2008). Group Problem Solving and Anxiety During a Simulated Mountaineering Ascent. Environment and Behavior. 40(1), 3-23. https://doi: 10.1177/0013916506296201
53. Trauer, B. (2006). Conceptualizing special interest tourism-frameworks for analysis. Tourism Management, 27(2), 183-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2004.10.004
54. Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. New York: Cambridge University Press.
55. Whitlock, W., Van Romer, K., & Becker, R. (1991). Nature based tourism: An annotated bibliography. Clemson, SC: Strom Thurmond Institute, Regional Development Group.
56. Yalom, I.D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.