The effect of perceived crowding on risk perception in leisure sports: Based on Edward T. Hall’s concept of “proxemics”

This study aims to identify how we can prevent the spread of infectious
diseases and examines the social distancing required for participants in
leisure sports activities to safely enjoy these activities. Based on
crowdedness and risk perception in spaces perceived by people today, the
above is investigated in terms of distance in Edward T. Hall’s concept of
proxemics. The study subjects are people aged 20–65 who used spaces for
leisure sports during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. An online
survey was conducted from September 20 to October 20, 2021, and data from
a total of 391 participants were used for the final analysis. Measures of
perceived crowding, risk perception, and Edward T. Hall’s proxemics were
used as the tools after modifying and validating them. The results showed
that perceived crowding according to space for leisure sports activities
during the COVID-19 pandemic affected individual risk perception in indoor
leisure sports and social risk perception in outdoor leisure activities.
Perceived crowding according to proxemics influenced personal, social, and
public distance in individual risk perception and public and social
distance in social risk perception. Therefore, it is necessary to
re-examine the scope of social distance in perceiving risk perception and
reducing the crowdedness of participants in leisure sports activities to
prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Moreover,
individuals must make efforts to maintain a minimum distance from others.
Further, media education and warning messages must be disseminated to
prevent infection and reduce crowding.