Effect of perceived crowding on risk perception in leisure sports: an analysis based on Edward T Hall's concept of 'proxemics'

This study investigates the social distancing measures necessary for participants to safely engage in leisure sports activities and comply with social distancing requirements during epidemics. Based on crowding and risk perception in public spaces in this context of an epidemic, this investigation was conducted in terms of distance in Edward T. Hall's concept of 'proxemics'. The participants were males aged 20-65 who used spaces for leisure sports during COVID-19 in South Korea. An online survey was conducted from September 20 to October 20, 2021, and data from 391 participants were used for the final analysis. Measures of perceived crowding, risk perception, and Hall's proxemics were used as tools after they were modified and validated. The results show that perceived crowding according to space for leisure sports activities during COVID-19 affected individual risk perception in indoor leisure sports and social risk perception in outdoor leisure activities. Perceived crowding, according to proxemics, influenced (1) personal, social, and public distances in individual risk perception and (2) public and social distances in social risk perception. Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine the scope of social distance in developing risk perception and reducing the perceived crowding of participants in leisure sports to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Moreover, individuals must make efforts to maintain a minimum distance from one another. Further, media education and warning messages must be disseminated to reduce crowding and prevent infection spread.