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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(10): 858-863
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1398677
Behavioural Sciences
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Acute Exercise Increases Sex Differences in Amateur Athletes’ Risk Taking

S. Pighin
1   University of Verona, Research Center “Sport, Mountain and Health”, Trento, Italy
2   Center for Experimental Research in Management and Economics, DCP, University IUAV of Venice, Venice, Italy
,
L. Savadori
3   Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
,
N. Bonini
3   Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
,
L. Andreozzi
3   Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
,
A. Savoldelli
1   University of Verona, Research Center “Sport, Mountain and Health”, Trento, Italy
,
F. Schena
1   University of Verona, Research Center “Sport, Mountain and Health”, Trento, Italy
4   Neurological and Motor Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 13 January 2015

Publication Date:
19 June 2015 (online)

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Abstract

The research presented here investigates the interaction between acute exercise, biological sex and risk-taking behavior. The study involved 20 amateur athletes (19–33 years old), 10 males and 10 females, who were asked to undergo subsequent experimental sessions designed to compare their risky behaviors on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) [34] at rest and while exercising at moderate intensity (60% of their maximal aerobic power). Results showed that physical exercise affected male and female participants differently: Whereas males became more risk seeking, females became more risk averse during exercise.

Key words

physical exercise - athletes - decision making - risk taking - sex differences
 

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