A Study on Sensation Seeking, Leisure Benefits and Well-being of Whitewater Rafting Visitors in Lao-nong River

• Main Authors: Shen I Ju, 沈易儒
• Other Authors: Chiang Yu Jen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/59799812409380290139

碩士 === 南台科技大學 === 休閒事業管理系 === 96 === Whitewater rafting is one of the adventure recreation activities which are known to be more important than ever. The number of adventure participants has grown rapidly in recent years. Adventure recreation is characterized as risky and challenging. To participate adventure recreation, participants are not only can satisfy sensation seeking, they can also obtain various benefits, well-being experiences and positive emotions. However, there is little literature on whitewater rafting and the relationships among the sensation seeking, leisure benefits and well-being. Thus, the purpose of this study is to understand sensation seeking, leisure benefits, well-being and the relationships among these variables. The study site is the Lao-nong River in Kaohsiung County. The 396 valid samples were collected from questionnaire surveys. The descriptive statistics, factor analysis, T-test, one-way ANOVA, cross table analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were conducted. The main results are described as follows: 1.The dimensions of sensation seeking include trill and adventure seeking, experience seeking, disinhibition, and boredom susceptibility. The visitors have highest sensation seeking mean score on disinhibition and lowest mean score on boredom susceptibility. It is found that different visitors’ demographic variables and travel characteristics show significant difference to the sensation seeking dimensions. 2.The leisure benefits are divided into three factors through factor analysis. These three factors include stress release/relationship improvement, improving physical fitness and skill, and social recognition/self development. It is found that different visitors’ demographic variables and travel characteristics show significant difference to the leisure benefit factors. 3.The well-being is divided into two factors through factor analysis. These two factors include personal expressiveness/hedonic enjoyment and interpersonal harmony. It is found that different visitors’ demographic variables and travel characteristics show significant difference to the well-being factors. 4.A significant difference is found between high and low sensation seekers on well-being. The high sensation seekers have higher well-being scores than low sensation seekers. 5.By using canonical correlation analysis, it is found that the disinhibiton and thrill and adventure seeking of sensation seeking dimensions are significant positively related to the interpersonal harmony of well-being factors. 6.By using canonical correlation analysis, it is found that the disinhibiton and thrill and adventure seeking of sensation seeking dimensions are significant positively related to the stress release/relationship improvement of leisure benefit factors. 7.The result of multiple regression analysis indicates stress release/relationship improvement, social recognition/self development, and improving physical fitness and skill have significant influence on well-being. The total explained variance of these three factors is 64.7%.