Fear of flying: A constructivist grounded theory of fear injuries in paraglider pilots

Objective: Qualitative research involving high-risk sports participants is limited and has predominately focused on motivation for participation. Researchers have contributed valuable insights concerning the lived experience of fear; however, how high-risk sports participants experience fear and subsequently how fear influences performance is not well understood. Paraglider pilots commonly use the term “fear injury” to describe how the experience of fear influences performance following an adverse event. Although the term is understood by the community, it lacks a formal definition and explanatory framework. The purpose of this study is to develop a grounded theory that explains the process and characteristics of fear injuries to understand how
performance is influenced in paraglider pilots.

Methods: A constructivist grounded theory approach was utilized, involving 38 semi-structured in-depth interviews with paraglider pilots. Data were analyzed and coded in three stages: Initial Coding, Focused Coding, and Theoretical Integration to identify key themes and categories that describe the fear injury process.

Findings and Discussion: The findings reveal a multi-stage process initiated by a stressor or trigger leading to an embodied experience of fear. This physical response is accompanied by a heightened perception of risk. A decrease in performance is observed, however, more research is needed to understand how the experience of a fear injury changes over time.

Conclusions: This study provides a foundational theory that describes the process of fear injuries in paraglider pilots. More research is needed to understand how fear injuries develop over time and to explore potential pathways to recovery.