Mountain climber outdoor motivation and safety behavior

This study examined the role of role clarity and safety cognition in shaping mountain climbers’ participation motivation and safety behavior. The study sample comprised 454 participants (males = 58.8%, mean age = 32 years, SD = 9.31). They completed measures on five participation motivation dimensions (achievement, interest, knowledge, socialization, and health) and safety participation. The results from structural equation modelling indicated that participant motivations in achievement, health, and knowledge significantly predicted safety participation behavior, such as risk avoidance, self-protection, and mutual assistance, more so than the motivations of interest and socialization. Role clarity moderated the relationship between motivation and safety behavior by strengthening the positive effect of motivation on behavior when individuals had a clear understanding of their responsibilities. Safety cognition mediated this relationship, as stronger motivation enhanced safety awareness, which in turn promoted safety participation. Moreover, role clarity particularly strengthened the indirect effect in the path from motivation to behavior via safety cognition, forming a moderated mediation model. These findings suggest that enhancing participation motivation, improving safety cognition, and optimizing role clarity can significantly boost safety participation in mountain outdoor sports

CLARITY · Cognition · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Safety behaviors · Structural equation modeling · Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Outdoor and Experiential Education