The Relationship Between Sensation Seeking and Death Anxiety Among Male Motorcycle Riders

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, Early View

Published Online: 29 July 2026, Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.25

RESEARCH ARTICLE /ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

The Relationship Between Sensation Seeking and Death Anxiety Among Male Motorcycle Riders

Erkek Motosiklet Sürücülerinde Heyecan Arayışı ve Ölüm Kaygısı Arasındaki İlişki

Muhammed Ferit Duman¹ , Şükrü Türköz² , Canan Bozkurt Duman³

Abstract:

This study aimed to examine the relationship between sensation-seeking levels and death anxiety among male motorcycle riders. Conducted using a descriptive, cross-sectional design, the study population comprised motorcycle club members in Türkiye. A total of 255 male motorcycle riders who participated online between September 25 and October 20, 2025, were included in the study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis were used, with statistical significance set at p < .05. The mean age of the participants was 40.59±9.82 years, with 49.8% aged between 30 and 44 years. The mean scores were 23.45±6.61 for sensation seeking and 5.90±2.59 for death anxiety. High levels of death anxiety were identified in 39.6% of the participants. According to the logistic regression analysis, age, marital status, alcohol use, motorcycle type, and the presence of family members who ride motorcycles were significant predictors of high death anxiety (p < .05). Moreover, each one-point increase in sensation seeking was associated with a 17% decrease in the likelihood of experiencing high death anxiety. The findings indicate that male motorcycle riders exhibit moderate to high levels of sensation seeking and that a considerable proportion experience high death anxiety. Sensation seeking may serve as a short-term coping mechanism that alleviates death anxiety; however, in the long term, engagement in risky behaviors may have adverse effects on psychological well-being and overall health. The study highlights the importance of developing psychosocial support programs for male motorcycle riders and strengthening their coping capacities to manage death anxiety.

Keywords: Sensation seeking, Death anxiety, Motorcycle riders, Psychosocial factors.

¹Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Vocational School of Health Services, Social Work and Counseling Department

²Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Zübeyde Hanım Faculty of Health Sciences, Social Work Department

³Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing Department

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Muhammed Ferit Duman, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Yeni District, Şehit Astsubay Mustafa Soner Varlık Street, No: 77, Central Classroom Building, Bandırma, 10250, Balıkesir, Türkiye, E-mail: [email protected].

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 04.11.2025, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 20.04.2026, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 28.04.2026, Date of Online Publication/Çevrimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 03.08.2026

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Duman, M. F., Türköz, Ş. & Duman, C. B. (2026).  The relationship between sensation seeking and death anxiety among male motorcycle riders. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.25

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/