# Influencing factors of marathon runners’ sport risk behavior: a mixed method study based on social cognitive theory

## TL;DR

This study identifies factors influencing risky behavior in marathon runners and suggests ways to improve safety through education and environment.

## Contribution

A mixed-method approach using social cognitive theory to identify both individual and environmental factors influencing marathon runners' risk behavior.

## Key findings

- Sports learning resources, risk perception, and health information seeking negatively correlate with risk behavior.
- Peers' risk behavior and achievement motivation positively correlate with risk behavior.
- Competition safety climate negatively correlates with some dimensions of risk behavior.

## Abstract

Preventing health risks for marathon runners is of great significance for the sustainable development of marathon competitions. This study is based on the perspective of “prevention and control of human unsafe behavior” in system security theory, using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework. By using a mixed method of triangulation (qualitative research + quantitative verification + literature support), this study explores the influencing factors of marathon runners’ sport risk behavior.

This study first conducted interviews with 21 Chinese marathon runners to summarize potential influencing factors through thematic analysis. Subsequently, 514 quantitative data were collected from marathon events in China, and Spearman correlation analysis was employed to verify the relationship between these influencing factors and the level of sport risk behavior among marathon runners.

The environmental factors influencing marathon runners’ sport risk behavior include competition safety climate, sports learning resources, and peers’ risk behavior. Individual factors include achievement motivation, perception of sports risk, and health information seeking behavior. Quantitative research results show that sports learning resources, perception of sports risk, and health information seeking behavior have a significant negative correlation with all dimensions of sport risk behavior. Peers’ risk behavior has a significant positive correlation with all dimensions of sport risk behavior. Competition safety climate has a significant negative correlation with some dimensions. Achievement motivation has a significant positive correlation with some dimensions.

Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that competition organizers should pay attention to creating a safe climate during the competition. Relevant social departments, universities, and other organizations should work together to provide sports learning resources for runners and jointly provide an educational environment for marathon runners. These roles should start from the aspects of marathon runners’ exercise motivation, risk perception, and health information seeking skills to help them construct a scientific understanding of fitness.