Backcountry Risk-Taking (BRiT)—An Instrument to Evaluate an Individual's Overall Risk-Taking Behavior Within the Backcountry Avalanche Environment
Sarah Petelinsek, Olivia Pearson, Rowan Kelner, Boomer Olsen, Nikki Champion, Kailey Mahoney, Peilu Zhang, Scott E. McIntosh, Patrick G. HughesStudy Hypothesis
The primary objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel instrument called the Backcountry Risk-Taking Instrument (BRiT) to measure risk-taking behavior among backcountry users. We aimed to create an instrument that is content-valid, grounded in theory, and psychometrically sound.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument. Participants completed the newly developed 13-item instrument along with established measures of risk-taking behavior and risk preference to assess convergent validity.
Results
A total of 361 participants completed the survey. After listwise deletion, n = 280 were retained for factor analysis and n = 354 for convergent validity. The resulting instrument provides a concise, empirically supported framework for measuring backcountry risk behavior and establishes a foundation for prospective validation in future cohorts.
Conclusions
The BRiT instrument significantly advances avalanche risk assessment. BRiT demonstrates a clear and stable foundation built upon 3 domains: Core Gear, Avalanche History, and Terrain Choice. Continued validation and refinement across broader populations will strengthen its utility as a foundational tool for both research and applied avalanche risk management.