The influence of risk perception in mountaineering on re-participation intentions: a moderated mediation model

TL;DR

This study explores how risk perception and smooth experience affect the likelihood of continuing to participate in mountaineering, with social support playing a key role.

Contribution

The paper introduces a moderated mediation model linking risk perception, smooth experience, and re-participation intention in mountaineering.

Findings

Risk perception negatively affects re-participation intention and smooth experience.

Smooth experience mediates the relationship between risk perception and re-participation intention.

Social support enhances the positive effect of smooth experience on re-participation intention.

Abstract

Mountaineering is a high-risk outdoor activity requiring strong psychological regulation and risk assessment abilities. The study aims to investigate the relationship between risk perception in mountaineering and re-participation intention, specifically focusing on the mediating role of smooth experience and the moderating effect of social support.

Drawing on Risk Perception Theory and Flow Theory, we proposed a moderated mediation model and surveyed 516 recreational mountaineering participants. Descriptive statistics, reliability and validity tests, and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 (PROCESS 4.1, 5,000 bootstrap resamples).

(1) Risk perception negatively predicted both re-participation intention and smooth experience. (2) Smooth experience positively predicted re-participation intention and mediated the association between risk perception and re-participation intention. (3) Social support moderated the smooth experience and re-participation intention link, such that the positive effect of smooth experience was stronger at higher levels of social support.

Smooth experience constitutes a key psychological pathway through which risk perception relates to re-participation intention, and social support strengthens the behavioral benefits of smooth experience. These findings highlight the joint role of psychological experience and social resources in promoting sustained engagement in mountaineering.

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