Athletic identity in climbing: the roles of commitment, enjoyment, and social influence

Sports climbing, as both recreation and competition, has reached a level of popularity that demands physical and psychological strength, as well as a high level of commitment. This study expands upon widely accepted models of sports identity by testing the prediction of athletic identity from sports commitment and enjoyment, as well as from social constraints for climbers, a relationship well known in sports but rarely tested in climbing. A total of 131 climbers from 31 countries took part in a validated online survey. Using multiple regression and path analysis, the model explained 55% of the variance in athletic identity. Sports commitment was the strongest predictor ( r = .72, p < .05; β = .636), while sports enjoyment showed no significant direct effect. Furthermore, enjoyment indirectly influenced athletic identity through its impact on commitment and social constraints. The model explained 26% of the variance in sports commitment. Climbers who competed reported significantly higher levels of athletic identity, sports commitment, and social constraints than climbers who did not compete, while they reported similar levels of enjoyment. The implications of this study suggest that, inclimbing, identity is more strongly linked to commitment than to enjoyment, which could be important for developing athletes. Although this study was naturally limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, it offers some possibilities and insights into how social and psychological factors influence athletic identity in less well-tried sports. There is practical value in the information provided for coaching and outdoor programs designed to foster deeper motivation and commitment among climbers.