Motivational factors in extreme sports

Participation in extreme sports has increased significantly in recent decades, with social media playing a key role in this development. This study examines the motivational factors that drive participation in skydiving, focusing on differences between novice and experienced athletes. It also examines the influence of social media, competition level, and professional involvement on long-term engagement. An online survey (n = 310) assessed motivation across 15 key factors. The findings indicate that skydiving motivation evolves over time, shifting from intrinsic drivers such as skill mastery and personal achievement to extrinsic factors like competition and professional involvement. While social media did not have a significant impact across experience levels, a stronger influence of social media was observed among younger generations. Future research should explore long-term motivational shifts and the role of personality traits in shaping risk-taking and commitment.