Sensation seeking and involvement in chess

The present study examined the relationship between scores on the Sensation Seeking Scale [SSS; Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking; beyond the optimal level of arousal. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.] and involvement in chess within a sample of 112 college students. Students who reported having played chess, and those with more chess experience, evidenced higher scores on both the Total SSS and the Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) subscale, effects which were independent of gender. Higher scores on Disinhibition were also associated with greater chess experience. The present results provide further support for the validity of the TAS scale with regard to involvement in sports, and suggest that more attention be directed to the link between sensation seeking and involvement in low-risk, but theoretically relevant, sporting activities.