Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

ISSN: 2300-9705     eISSN: 2353-2807    OAI    DOI: 10.18276/cej.2021.2-02
CC BY-SA   Open Access   DOAJ  DOAJ

Issue archive / Vol. 34, No. 2/2021
Evaluation of the Psychological and Hormonal Parameters in Paragliding

Authors: Deniz Sinem Çalık ORCID
Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Institute of Health Sciences, Turkey

Recep Gürsoy ORCID
Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Turkey

Ercan Saruhan ORCID
Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey
Keywords: paragliding hormones risk anxiety
Data publikacji całości:2021
Page range:9 (15-23)
Cited-by (Crossref) ?:

Abstract

Background: Paragliding is an extreme sport performed by gliding from a mountain at high altitude into the air. The authors aimed to determine the differences between the levels of adrenaline, cortisol, and insulin before and after the flight of tandem pilots and passengers flying for the first time, and to determine the relationship between these hormones and death anxiety and risk-taking levels. Materials and Methods: The study included 12 experienced male pilots and 15 male passengers flying for the first time. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured after the participants had filled in Personal Information Form, DOSPERT Risk-Taking Scale and Death Anxiety Scale before the flight. Blood samples were taken before and after the flight to determine adrenaline, cortisol, and insulin levels. Results: Adrenaline and cortisol levels, as well as heart rate, increased significantly after the flight, while insulin levels decreased significantly in the passenger group (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the pilot group. Conclusions: The experience factor plays an important role in the positive effect of paragliding flight on cortisol, adrenaline, insulin, and various physiological parameters, as well as mediates the adaptation of the organism to unusual situations. The human organism adapts physiologically and hormonally to the flying action. One of the striking results of the study was that cortisol levels were at the upper limit of normal values in the passenger group after the flight.
Download file

Article file

Bibliography

1.Agilonu, A., Bastug, G., Mutlu, T.O., Pala, A. (2017). Examining Risk-Taking Behavior and Sensation Seeking Requirement in Extreme Athletes. Journal of Education and Learning, 6 (1), 330336. ERIC Number: EJ1139189.
2.Bakan, S., Tek, N.A. (2018). Effects of Hormones on Regulation of Energy Expenditure. Acibadem University Health Sciences Journal, 9 (3), 207212. https://doi.org/10.31067/0.2018.33.
3.Belsky, J. (1999). The psychology of aging. Theory, research, and interventions. Brooks/Cole. California: Pacific Grove.
4.Blais, A.R., Weber, E.U. (2006). A domain specific risk taking scale for adult populations. Judgment and Decision Making, 1, 3347. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1301089.
5.Brymer, E. (2010). Risk taking in extreme sports: a phenomenological perspective. Annals of Leisure Research, 13 (12), 218238. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2010.9686845.
6.Brymer, E., Oades, L.G. (2009). Extreme sports: A positive transformation in courage and humility. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49 (1), 114126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167808326199.
7.Canbek, U., İmerci, A., Akgün, U., Yeşil, M., Aydin, A., Balci, Y. (2015). Characteristics of injuries caused by paragliding accidents: A cross-sectional study. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 6 (3), 2214. https://doi.org/10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2015.03.011.
8.Castanier, C., Scanff, C.L., Woodman, T. (2010). Who takes risks in high-risk sports? A typological personality approach. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81 (4), 478484. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2010.10599709.
9.Choi, J.I., Kim, K.H. (2013). Comparison of Changed on Saliva Cortisol according to Skill Level and Gender during Paragliding. The Official Journal of the Korean Academy of Kinesiology, 15 (4), 1321. https://doi.org/10.15758/jkak.2013.15.4.13.
10.Çakır, Z.S. (2010). Steady State Anxiety Levels and Heart Rate Changes Inexperienced Paragliders in repeated Jumps. Master’s Thesis. Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
11.Filaire, E., Rouveix, M., Alix, D., Le Scanff, C. (2007). Motivation, stress, anxiety, and cortisol responses in elite paragliders. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 104 (3_suppl), 12711281. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.104.4.1271-1281.
12.Goksal, D. (2019). Paragliding ‘Theory, Game and Flow Experience’. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.
13.Hackney, A.C. (2006). Stress and the neuroendocrine system: the role of exercise as a stressor and modifier of stress. Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1 (6), 783792. https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.1.6.783.
14.Hare, O.A., Wetherell, M.A., Smith, M.A. (2013). State anxiety and cortisol reactivity to skydiving in novice versus experienced skydivers. Physiology & Behavior, 118, 4044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.011.
15.Koz, M., Ersoz, G., Babul, A. (1997). Immune response to Physical Exercise: Possible Impact Mechanisms. Turkey Clinics Journal of Medical Sciences, 17 (2), 8590.
16.Laver, L., Mei-Dan, O. (2013). Paragliding. In: O. Mei-Dan, M. Carmont, Adventure and Extreme Sports Injuries. London: Springer.
17.Mekinc, J., Music, K. (2016). Elements of safety in paragliding. Annales Kinesiologiae, 7 (1), 6780.
18.Moore, S., Gullone, E. (1996). Predicting adolescent risk behavior using a personalized cost-benefit analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 25 (3), 343359.
19.Onat, T., Kaya, E., Sozmen, E.Y. (2002). Human Biochemistry. Ankara: Palme.
20.Ozciris, I. (2017). Evaluation of Pre Flight anxiety and Stress level of paragliding Pilots. Master’s Thesis. Istanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul, Turkey.
21.Paixão, J.A.D., Tucher, G. (2012). Risk perception for paragliding practitioners. International Journal of Sports Science, 2 (2), 610.
22.Sarıkaya, Y. (2013). Development of Death Anxiety Scale: Validity and Reliability Study. Doctoral Thesis. Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey.
23.Sarıkaya, Y. Baloglu, M. (2016). The development and psychometric properties of the Turkish death anxiety scale (TDAS). Death Studies, 40 (7), 419431. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2016.1158752.
24.Schulze, W., Richter, J., Schulze, B., Esenwein, S.A., Büttner-Janz, K. (2002). Injury prophylaxis in paragliding. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 36 (5), 365369. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.36.5.365.
25.Şimşek, K.Y. (2010). Reliability and Validity Study of Sports Consumption Motivation Scale for Turkish Extreme Athletes. CBU Physical Education and Sport Sciences Journal, 5 (3), 97106. Retrieved from: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/cbubesbd/issue/32232/357802 (accessed on 13.01.2019).
26.Tordjman, K., Constantini, N., Hackney, A.C. (2013). Endocrine aspects and responses to extreme sports. In: L. Laver, O. Mei-Dan, In Adventure and Extreme Sports Injuries (pp. 315324). London: Springer.
27.Turkish Aeronautical Association (TAA) (1996). Paragliding Beginner Pilot’s Manual. Ankara: TAA Publishing.
28.Yalcin, M., Kardesoglu, E., Isilak, Z. (2011). High altitude and Heart. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin, 10 (2), 211222.