Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

January 2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Health Education

First Advisor

Jeffrey Martin

Abstract

Introduction. Individuals make decisions every day that involve some assessment of risk.. Relevant psychological factors that require a deeper investigation include sensation seeking (SS), personality traits, anxiety, and self-efficacy (SE). The theoretical framework for the study is the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat (BPSCT). Much of risk appraisal research has been done in a lab or on a computer, while this study presented a relevant, novel, and innovative physical task that incorporated risk in an ecologically valid setting. Purpose. The purpose of this research study was to examine participants' willingness to participate in a high-risk modern circus performance art task by investigating SS, extraversion, openness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, previous injury, HR, and BP as mediated by anticipatory anxiety, SE, and intention willingness. Methods. Participants completed multiple questionnaires including demographics, SSS V, Big Five Inventory, previous injury, STAI, a SE scale, and intention willingness, and had their HR and BP monitored. Behavior willingness was observed and grabbing the trapeze bar was viewed as someone believing they had the resources to complete the task (challenge state). Statistical analysis was a serial mediation model using the computational tool PROCESS. Results. There were 3 significant chains of mediation, two started with neuroticism and one with SBP. The indirect effect of neuroticism to anxiety to intention willingness to behavior willingness was significant (LLCI of -.1058 to a ULCI of -.0067). The indirect effect of neuroticism to SE to intention willingness to behavior willingness was also significant (LLCI of -.1633 to a ULCI of -.0008). The indirect effect of SBP change to intention willingness to behavior willingness was significant (LLCI of -.2109 to a ULCI of -.0351). Evaluating the specific frequencies revealed 21 participants (18.3%) scored 0 or remained seated, 2 participants (1.7%) stood up but did not take any steps toward the rig, and 92 participants (80%) grabbed the trapeze bar. Conclusion. Results reflected that both the psychological and physiological variables were both valuable. There was moderate support for the proposed serial mediation model and the study was able to narrow the gap between intention and behavior when it comes to risk-taking.

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