Bakgrund: Studier visar att hörselskador kan uppstå till följd av yttre påfrestningar så som exponering av buller och kraftiga tryckförändringar. Fallskärmshoppare exponeras för bägge dessa faktorer, vilket skulle kunna innebära en ökad risk för att utveckla hörselskador. Trots detta är området mycket sparsamt studerat. En ökad kunskap inom området medför att eventuella behov av preventiva åtgärder kan identifieras. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka förekomsten av upplevda hörselbesvär hos fallskärmshoppare, samt om det finns något samband mellan upplevda hörselbesvär och antal hopp, användning av öronproppar eller akustiska höjdvarnare. Metod: Studien genomfördes i form av en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie. En webbenkät skickades ut till samtliga aktiva fallskärmshoppare med registrerad e-postadress i två fallskärmsklubbar i Mellansverige. Totalt 244 fallskärmshoppare deltog i studien (svarsfrekvens 47,6 %). Resultat: Hörselrelaterade besvär i form av hörselnedsättning, tinnitus och smärta/obehag i öronen förekom hos 20-30 % av de studerade fallskärmshopparna. Det fanns däremot inga statistiskt signifikanta samband mellan upplevda hörselbesvär och antal fallskärmshopp, användning av öronproppar eller användning av akustiska höjdvarnare. Andelen som uppgav att de upplevde svårigheter att höra vad som sägs i ett samtal mellan flera personer var högre bland de studerade fallskärmshopparna jämfört med en åldersmatchad population i SCB:s befolkningsundersökning. Slutsats: Inga samband mellan antal fallskärmshopp och hörselrelaterade besvär kan ses, men resultatet tyder på att fallskärmshoppare upplever hörselnedsättning i större utsträckning jämfört med övriga befolkningen. Vidare studier krävs för att med säkerhet kunna avgöra om fallskärmshoppning innebär en risk för att utveckla hörselskador. / Background: Studies have shown that hearing loss can be caused by environmental factors like noise and changes in the pressure. Skydivers are exposed to several risk factors for hearing impairment, but there is a lack of studies investigating hearing loss among skydivers. More knowledge among the phenomena is needed to identify potential need of preventive work.  Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of self-perceived hearing symptoms among skydivers. The study also examined the relationship between self-perceived hearing symptoms and the use of earplugs and audible altimeters. Methods: The study was executed as a quantitative cross-sectional study. Webb-based questionnaires were sent out to all skydivers with registered e-mail in two skydiving clubs in Sweden. A total of 244 skydivers were studied (response rate 47.6 %) Results: Hearing symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus and ear pain was found in 20-30 % of the skydivers. The proportion who experienced difficulty in hearing was higher among the skydivers than an age-matched population from a SCB survey. However, no statistically significant correlations between self-perceived hearing symptoms and number of parachute jumps, use of earplugs or use of audible altimeters were found. Conclusion: No relationship between amount of skydiving and hearing symptoms could be found, but the results indicate that hearing loss is more common among skydivers compared to the general population. Further studies are required to investigate if skydivers are in risk of developing hearing loss.

Den här uppsatsen är en fenomenologisk studie av sexism inom fallskärmshoppning. Från ett genusvetenskapligt perspektiv är det viktigt att belysa genusnormer i olika institutioner i samhället. Tidigare forskning visar att det saknas en mer djupgående analys av kvinnors upplevelser av fenomenet sexism inom sporten fallskärmshoppning. Undersökning ämnar därför att synliggöra hur kvinnliga licensierade fallskärmshoppare upplever kulturen inom sporten samt vilka strategier de använder sig av. Jag har utfört fem semi-strukturerade intervjuer med aktiva kvinnliga fallskärmshoppare för att kartlägga fenomenet. I analyserandet av materialet har två huvudteman identifierats, sexism på hopplatsen samt strategier. De teorier som har använts är hegemonisk maskulinitet och ambivalent sexism teori. Studien visar att fallskärmshoppningskulturen genomsyras av en hegemonisk maskulinitet vilket exemplifierar maktförhållanden mellan män och kvinnor. Fallskärmshoppning är ett litet mansdominerat sammanhang med starka maskulinitetsnormer men kan även spegla andra institutioner. / This thesis is a phenomenological study of sexism in skydiving. From a gender studies perspective it is important to shed light on gender norms in various institutions in society. Previous research shows that there is a lack of a more in-depth analysis of women's experiences of the phenomenon of sexism in the sport of skydiving. The survey therefore aims to emphasize how female licensed skydivers experience the culture in the sport and what strategies they employ. I have conducted five semi-structured interviews with active female skydivers to underline the phenomenon. In the analysis of the material, two main themes have been identified, sexism at the dropzone and strategies. The theories that have been used are hegemonic masculinity and ambivalent sexism theory. The study shows that the skydiving culture is permeated by a hegemonic masculinity, which exemplifies power relations between men and women. Skydiving is a small male-dominated context with strong masculinity norms but can also reflect other institutions. / <p>2022-06-02</p>

<p>The aim of this study has been to examine what students within the sport of skydiving think about their education and the social spirit of the community. The purpose of the study is thereby to answer the study's aim through the following questions; how does group dynamics and social solidarity work within the skydiving community, how do the students feel about group dynamics and social solidarity within the skydiving community, and what factors makes the students feel included or respectively excluded from the spirit of the togetherness?</p><p>The theoretical part of the study focuses on group dynamics and groups overall. Further on earlier research within adventure sports and skydiving regarding group dynamics and community spirit is presented. My survey is based on 35 interviews with skydiving students.</p><p>The result shows that the community spirit within skydiving sports is described by the students as very special, unique, and strong among the members. Overall the students have a very positive picture of the social solidarity within the skydiving sports but according to some students it also appears difficult to be included as a beginner. Excluding factors can be divided into two parts, educational factors and contacts with instructors, and time when the skydiving is called off for the day when some students do not know where to go, or who to talk to. Including factors are when people offer to help, give the students support or when they are invited to social activities during the evenings. My main conclusion is that the instructors and experienced skydivers attitude towards the students are very important to create a safe environment giving the students the confidence they need to get through their education. This is the most critical factor to make them feel welcome into the sport, and that they are also included within the spirit of togetherness. This key factor decides if they will want to stay in the skydiving community.</p>

The aim of this study has been to examine what students within the sport of skydiving think about their education and the social spirit of the community. The purpose of the study is thereby to answer the study's aim through the following questions; how does group dynamics and social solidarity work within the skydiving community, how do the students feel about group dynamics and social solidarity within the skydiving community, and what factors makes the students feel included or respectively excluded from the spirit of the togetherness? The theoretical part of the study focuses on group dynamics and groups overall. Further on earlier research within adventure sports and skydiving regarding group dynamics and community spirit is presented. My survey is based on 35 interviews with skydiving students. The result shows that the community spirit within skydiving sports is described by the students as very special, unique, and strong among the members. Overall the students have a very positive picture of the social solidarity within the skydiving sports but according to some students it also appears difficult to be included as a beginner. Excluding factors can be divided into two parts, educational factors and contacts with instructors, and time when the skydiving is called off for the day when some students do not know where to go, or who to talk to. Including factors are when people offer to help, give the students support or when they are invited to social activities during the evenings. My main conclusion is that the instructors and experienced skydivers attitude towards the students are very important to create a safe environment giving the students the confidence they need to get through their education. This is the most critical factor to make them feel welcome into the sport, and that they are also included within the spirit of togetherness. This key factor decides if they will want to stay in the skydiving community.