Personal and Social Dimensions of Risky Diving Behaviour.

Abstract

Researchers have analysed individual factors that may lead to risk-taking such as self-esteem and sensation-seeking. Few have investigated the association between risk-taking behaviour and the social environment using social network analyses. This research examined the association of both individual factors of self-esteem and sensation-seeking and social network characteristics of partner risk-taking, number of risk-taking friends, density and partner ties on risk-taking behaviours among recreational scuba divers. Data was collected from 91 recreational divers who answered questionnaires comprised of a demographics form, diving-related measures, psychological measures and a social networks section. Using two-step cluster analysis, respondents were categorised into three groups of risk-takers. Logistic regression analyses and analysis of variances indicated that sensation-seeking and partner risk-taking were associated with respondent risk-taking behaviour, whereas self-esteem, social network density and number of risk-taking friends were not significant variables. Sensation-seeking did not fully mediate the association between partner risk-taking and risky diving behaviour supporting the idea of an independent effect of the social environment. The relation between similarity of perceived partner risk-taking and closeness of partner ties was also significant. Dive operators may find the results of this study useful in implementing appropriate preventive measures to avoid diving accidents.