The efficacy of sensation seeking as a predictor of multiple risk behaviours among a sample of New Zealand mountain bikers

Abstract

The present study evaluated the efficacy of sensation seeking for the prediction of the high risk behaviours of dangerous sport participation, reckless driving, alcohol and drug use, and criminal behaviour. Previous research has reliably correlated the personality trait of sensation seeking with involvement in a wide range of dangerous activities across numerous domains. However few studies have comprehensively evaluated the simultaneous expression of multiple risk taking behaviours among a high risk group. It was hypothesised that dangerous activities would co-occur in a systematic fashion, such that they form a syndrome, or constellation, of risky behaviour across multiple domains. It was further hypothesised that these behaviours would be significantly correlated with the personality trait of sensation seeking. Participants were 205 male competitive mountain bikers, 80 involved in the high risk sport of downhill mountain biking racing, and 125 involved in the relatively safer sport of cross-country mountain bike racing. Participants were anonymously administered a 24 item New Zealand version of Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale-V. A behavioural inventory assessing involvement in the risky domains of dangerous driving, alcohol and drug use, and criminal behaviour was also completed. The primary hypothesis was confirmed with significant direct correlations between the latent variables of dangerous driving, alcohol and drug use, criminal behaviour, and dangerous sport (with the exception of between criminal behaviour and dangerous sport), suggesting a considerable degree of comorbidity between risky behaviours. The personality trait of sensation seeking was also demonstrated to significantly predict dangerous driving, alcohol and drug use, criminal behaviour, and dangerous sport participation. Discussion focuses on the implications, particularly for intervention strategies, for the reported constellation of risky behaviour. Given that the trait of sensation seeking has been shown to be useful in identification of high risk populations, it is argued that greater consideration should be given to the conceptual foundations of the sensation seeking theory when designing intervention strategies for high risk groups. It is postulated that such consideration would enhance the effectiveness of intervention programs.