Skydiving as emotion regulation: the rise and fall of anxiety is moderated by alexithymia.
We investigated alexithymia and the fluctuation of anxiety in skydiving women. Alexithymia significantly moderated the pre- to postjump fluctuation of state anxiety such that only alexithymic skydivers' anxiety diminished as a consequence of performing a skydive. This suggests that skydiving is an effective means of emotion regulation for alexithymic women. However, the significant rise in anxiety shortly after landing suggests that any emotional benefits are short-lived. No anxiety fluctuations emerged for nonalexithymic skydivers. The Alexithymia x Time interaction remained significant when controlling for age, experience, and trait anxiety. Results are discussed in terms of the potential dependence on risk-taking activities for alexithymic women.
Woodman
Tim
T
School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences, University of Wales-Bangor, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
Cazenave
Nicolas
N
Le Scanff
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001359:Aviation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires