Measuring the rush experiences: Development and validation of a short psychometric scale
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2023
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Abstract
The phenomenologies of participation in extreme sports and substance abuse have several similarities. Participants often describe extreme sports as a “rush” or “peak”, and these experiences are likened to the experience of using drugs. Qualitative research has primarily addressed experiences, whereas little research has investigated how to overcome problems stemming from a lack of standardized measurement tools. Since its recent introduction by Buckley (2012), the concept of the rush experience has been included in the literature on adventure sports, high-risk sports, and extreme sports. The present study aims to evaluate rush experiences and develop a short psychometric measurement tool that could reflect these experiences. In this respect, the study provides the first quantitative measurement tool for evaluating the rush experiences of extreme sports participants. This study was conducted on a sample of 1073 adventure, high-risk, and extreme sports participants from different countries who were recruited online using Google Forms. According to the results, the 13 items of the Rush Experience Scale are valid, reliable, and highly suitable for measuring rush experiences. Management implications: The problem with management implications in academic studies in adventure sports, high-risk sports, and extreme sports are that the heterogeneity of the terminology of these concepts. Qualitative researchers have mostly addressed participant experiences, and little has been done to overcome the problem that stems from the lack of standardized measurement tools. The aim of this study is to evaluate Rush experience and to develop a short psychometric measurement tool that could reflect the experiences of the participants. It is envisaged that the Rush Experience Scale will support qualitative research in this area and, in this respect, will facilitate and assist mixed-method research. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd