Extreme sports like rock climbing are often described as “addictive” – but is this just a figure of speech or is there scientific evidence that these sports can produce addiction-like behaviors?
A new study took a deep dive into this question, examining withdrawal symptoms in rock climbers during periods of abstinence from climbing.
Key Facts:
- Rock climbers experience withdrawal symptoms like cravings, negative moods, and loss of enjoyment in other activities when unable to climb – similar to substance addiction.
- Withdrawal was more intense in high-ability vs average-ability climbers, implying that addiction severity increases with greater exposure to the sport.
- Climbers use their sport to alleviate negative emotions, suggesting climbing serves as a form of self-medication.
- Extreme sports could potentially help treat addiction by redirecting sensation-seeking impulses and providing emotional regulation.
Source: J Behav Addict.
The Science of Climbing Addiction
Researchers interviewed 8 male rock climbers of high and average ability about their psychological experiences when unable to climb.
They asked about symptoms like cravings, loss of interest in other activities, negative moods, and use of climbing to relieve stress.
The climbers’ responses were analyzed for themes related to withdrawal.
Every climber reported strong cravings and urges to climb that often interfered with other aspects of life.
As one high-ability climber put it, “I just feel like I need to go (climbing).”
Climbing videos and magazines triggered even more intense cravings – especially in the high-ability climbers who watched them daily.
All climbers also described “anhedonia”, or loss of enjoyment in previously pleasurable activities, when they couldn’t climb.
One stated that since starting climbing, “Nothing compares… everything else just feels mundane.”
Periods away from climbing brought on negative moods like restlessness, frustration, and misery. Forced abstinence due to injury was especially distressing.
Additionally, the climbers revealed using their sport to relieve stress and “escape” from negative emotions.
As one climber described, “When I’m stressed at work its (climbing) total escapism.”
High vs Average Climbing Ability
The high-ability climbers reported more frequent and intense withdrawal symptoms compared to average-ability climbers.
They described stronger cravings and negative moods during time away from climbing.
Cue exposure had a greater impact on their urges.
This aligns with past research showing that addiction severity increases with greater exposure to the addictive stimuli.
The high-ability athletes were more experienced climbers who spent more time practicing their sport.
Climbing Addiction Similar to Substance Addiction
The researchers liken the climbers’ experiences to withdrawal symptoms seen in substance addicts and those with behavioral addictions like gambling.
They argue climbing provides a direct physiological and emotional reward that can become addictive, even without an external chemical substance.
Over time, the reward from climbing may desensitize users to more mundane pleasures in life and make them dependent on climbing for mood improvement – just as substance dependence leads to tolerance and withdrawal.
Cravings for climbing after abstinence are also comparable to drug cravings.
Harnessing Addiction – Using Extreme Sports in Addiction Therapy
While concerning at the individual level, the addictive traits of climbing noted in this study could potentially help treat addictions.
The researchers suggest extreme sports:
- Fulfill sensation-seeking needs, redirecting them from substance abuse
- Provide an alternative physiological high
- Teach emotional regulation skills to manage mood without drugs
So adding carefully managed extreme sports into addiction therapy programs could help recovering addicts resist relapse and readjust to life without drugs.
Of course, more research is needed to explore the viability of this approach.
Moving Forward – Next Steps in Extreme Sports Addiction Research
This was an initial qualitative study limited to male rock climbers.
There are several promising next steps for research:
- Survey larger samples of climbers using quantitative scales of withdrawal, craving, anhedonia etc. Compare statistically to non-climbers.
- Study other extreme sports – are similar addiction processes at play?
- Explore effects in female climbers and non-elite climbers.
- Conduct brain imaging studies to map neurobiology of climbing withdrawal.
- Trial extreme sports-based interventions in addiction treatment settings.
While rock climbing can build strength and provide thrills, this research highlights its potential downsides – from withdrawal to loss of interest in other aspects of life.
And these issues appear more likely in hardcore climbers dedicated to the sport long-term.
But if channeled productively, the fixation and highs from climbing could help treat addictions rather than fuel them.
References
- Study: Addiction in Extreme Sports: An Exploration of Withdrawal States in Rock Climbers
- Authors: Robert M. Heirene et al. (2016)
