Abstract

CAICEDO CAVAGNIS, Estefanía; PERENO, Germán Leandro  and  DE LA VEGA MARCOS, Ricardo. Risk propensity in athletes from Córdoba, Argentina. Suma Psicol. [online]. 2018, vol.25, n.1, pp.11-20. ISSN 0121-4381.  https://doi.org/10.14349/sumapsi.2018.v25.n1.2.

Risk propensity is a decision which entails either becoming involved in - or avoiding risks. Risk propensity has a general and specific aspect. The premise is that risk propensity has to encompass several domains and a temporal dimension. The level of propensity, situational demand, gender, age and past experience produce inconsistency in risk approaches. An instrumental study was developed to adapt the Risk Taking Index (RTI) in athletes from Córdoba, Argentina. The RTI is a simple and short measure with a Likert response format where people must rate their risk propensity in the present and past in six domains. In addition, differences between groups were performed, based on socio-demographic and sports variables, as well as correlation analysis between risk propensity and sports injuries occurrence. First, it was found that the RTI is a valid and consistent scale for assessing risk propensity in athletes. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the fit of the data to the theoretical model is satisfactory and reliability analysis showed high rates. Secondly, differences in risk propensity were found based on sex, age, and sports modality, as well as an interaction effect between these variables. Thirdly, small and positive associations were found between risk propensity and occurrence of both current and past sports injuries. In the future, it is suggested to evaluate differences between groups contemplating the type of sport, analizing risk in risky sports and delving into the study of this variable in the sports population.

Keywords : risk propensity; Risk Taking Index; sport psychology; athletes.

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