Satisfaction with Life, Optimism and Sense of Personal Competence Among Mountaineers

For over half a century, researchers have been trying to identify the characteristics of mountaineers, includingthose psychological. There is no consensus as to which of them are typical of mountaineers or alpinists. However,the search continues with regard to factors responsible for the psychological determinants of mountaineering.The aim of this study was to demonstrate the levels of satisfaction with life, sense of personal competence and optimism,and whether there are any relationships between these variables in mountaineering expeditions. The studyparticipants comprised 22 individuals – 18 men and 4 women. The average age of the participants was 34.82 years.The following research methods were used: KompOs – Personal Competence Scale, SWLS – Satisfaction with LifeScale, and LOT-R – Life Orientation Test-Revised.The obtained results demonstrated a relationship between satisfaction with life and strength (in the sense of thepower to initiate action) and optimism. A correlation was also found between gender and strength. The respondentswere characterised by an average level of satisfaction with life and perseverance, and a high level of sense ofself-effi cacy, optimism and strength.