Communication Practices and Social Tie Formation: A Case Study of Recreational Lifestyle Sports Cultures

Abstract
This case study examines contemporary recreational sports practitioners’ communication practices and social tie formation from the perspective of two lifestyle sports disciplines: climbing and trail running. Online survey results from 301 climbers and trail runners from Finland indicate that computer-mediated communication (CMC) has established its place in recreational lifestyle sports cultures; however, it has not done it at the expense of face-to-face (FtF) communication. Online interaction produces weak social ties with instrumental and informative value, but physical location is essential in establishing ties with emotional and appraisal value. This paper argues that it is the sports subculture and individual practitioners’ needs that define how interaction is realized, and what importance different online and off-line communication practices have. Besides studying communication practices, this case study explores the social meanings practitioners attribute to their social contacts.
Main Author
Format
Articles Research article
Published
2017
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Human Kinetics
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201708233549Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1936-3915
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2017-0032
Language
English
Published in
International Journal of Sport Communication
Citation
  • Ehrlén, V. (2017). Communication Practices and Social Tie Formation: A Case Study of Recreational Lifestyle Sports Cultures. International Journal of Sport Communication, 10(3), 393-413. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2017-0032
License
Open Access
Copyright© 2017 Human Kinetics. This is a final draft version of an article whose final and definitive form has been published by Human Kinetics. Published in this repository with the kind permission of the publisher.

Share