Data_Sheet_1_An Exploratory Study of Extreme Sport Athletes’ Nature Interactions: From Well-Being to Pro-environmental Behavior.PDF

Traditionally, perceptions about extreme sport athletes being disconnected from nature and a risk-taking population have permeated the research literature. Drawing upon theoretical perspectives from environmental, sport, organizational and positive psychology, this qualitative study attempts to explore the lived experiences of four male and four female extreme sport athletes. The purpose of this study was to gain insight and understanding into the individuals’ attitudes toward the benefits of extreme sport activities for well-being, resilience and pro-environmental behavior. Eight participants (Mean age = 40.5 years; SD = ± 12.9) provided written informed consent to partake in semi-structured interviews. Each athlete provided written consented to allow the publication of their identifiable data and in order to facilitate sharing of their autobiographical account of their experiences. After conducting thematic analysis, meta-themes that emerged from the analyses were as follows: (a) early childhood experiences, (b) the challenge of the outdoors, (c) their emotional response to nature, (d) nature for coping, (e) restorative spaces, and (f) environmental concern. The findings convey great commonalities across the participants with regard to their mindset, their emotional well-being as well as their connectivity with nature and attitudes toward the natural environment. The cognitive-affective-social-behavioral linkage of the benefits of extreme sport participation for well-being, psychological recovery and pro-environmental behavior are highlighted. This study examining the lived experiences of extreme sportspeople provides a novel contribution to our contemporary understanding of extreme athletes’ relationship to nature and its commensurate impact upon well-being and pro-environmental attitudes. The findings suggest that extreme sport participation, while inherently risky has psychological benefits ranging from evoking positive emotions, developing resilience and life coping skills to cultivating strong affinity to and connection with nature and the natural environment.

传统观念认为，极限运动运动员与自然隔绝，属于冒险人群，这一观点在研究文献中普遍存在。本研究借鉴环境学、体育学、组织学以及积极心理学的理论视角，对四位男性和四位女性极限运动运动员的亲身经历进行了定性研究。研究旨在深入洞察个体对极限运动活动对身心健康、适应力和环保行为的益处的态度。八位参与者（平均年龄为40.5岁，标准差为±12.9）提供了书面知情同意书，同意参与半结构化访谈。每位运动员均签署了书面同意书，允许公开其可识别的数据，并便于分享其个人经历的自传性描述。经过主题分析，从分析中涌现出的元主题包括：（a）童年经历，（b）户外挑战，（c）对自然的情感反应，（d）自然作为应对手段，（e）恢复性空间，以及（f）环境关注。研究发现，参与者在心态、情感福祉以及与自然的连接性以及对自然环境的看法上存在显著共性。本研究强调了极限运动参与对身心健康、心理恢复和环保行为的认知-情感-社会-行为联系。对极限运动员的亲身经历进行的研究，为我们对极限运动员与自然的关系以及其对身心健康和环保态度的相应影响提供了新颖的见解。研究结果提示，尽管极限运动本质上具有风险，但其心理益处广泛，从唤起积极情绪、培养适应力和生活应对技巧，到培养对自然及自然环境强烈的好感和连接性。