Citation

Cazenave N, Le Scanff C, Woodman T. Anxiety Stress Coping 2007; 20(4): 421-435.

Affiliation

Université d'Orsay, Paris XI, Centre de Recherche en Science du Sport, Orsay, France. ncazenave@yahoo.fr

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10615800701330176

PMID

17999241

Abstract

We investigated the psychological profiles and emotional regulation characteristics of women involved in risk-taking sports. The research sample (N=180) consisted of three groups of women engaged in: (1) non-risk sports (N=90); (2) risk-taking sports for leisure purposes (N=53); or (3) risk-taking sports as professionals (N=37). Each participant completed five questionnaires, the Sensation Seeking Scale, the Bem Sex Role Inventory, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Risk & Excitement Inventory, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The results revealed significant differences between the groups' profiles. Of particular interest are the differences that exist between the profiles of Group 2 (escape profile, masculine gender identity, and high scores on sensation seeking, impulsivity, alexithymia) and Group 3 (compensation profile, androgynous gender identity, average score on sensation seeking, and low scores on impulsivity, alexithymia). We propose that the professional woman might be considered a model for preventing destructive risk-taking behaviors.

Language: en