Doping use is an ongoing problem in contemporary sports. Despite efforts to detect and control doping, research on its etiology is limited, especially among elite-level athletes. The present study used an integrated social cognition model to examine the predictors of doping intentions. Structured anonymous questionnaires were completed by 1075 Greek adult elite-level athletes (M age = 25 years, SD = 5.89, 36.1% females) from both team and individual sports. Multiple regression and mediation analyses showed that attitudes, normative beliefs, situational temptation, and behavioral control significantly predicted doping intentions. A normative process was identified whereby situational temptation mediated the effects of normative beliefs on intentions. The findings provide the basis for future social cognition research in doping use, and set the framework for the development of evidence-based preventive interventions.

The present study assessed adolescent athletes' intentions toward doping by using an integrative theoretical model. Overall, 650 adolescent athletes from team and individual sports completed an anonymous structured questionnaire including demographic information, social desirability, achievement goals, motivational regulations, sportspersonship orientations, social cognitive variables, and anticipated regret. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the integrative model predicted 57.2% of the variance in doping intentions. Social cognitive variables and anticipated regret directly predicted doping intentions. Anticipated regret added 3% incremental variance on top of other predictors. Multiple mediation analyses showed that the effects of achievement goals on intentions were mediated by self-efficacy beliefs, whereas the effects of sportspersonship were mediated by attitudes and anticipated regret. The present study confirmed the dual structure of an integrative model of doping intentions and further highlighted the role of anticipated regret in the study of adolescent doping use.

Abstract:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of IAAF Kids' Athletics on motivation, physical fitness and track and field event performance of children (11-12 years old). The IAAF Kids' Athletics is a track and field teaching program that was developed by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation). In total 215 elementary students participated in the study. IAAF Kids' Athletics was implemented in an experimental group and the traditional skill teaching method for track and field was used in the control group. The experiment was conducted in an elementary school environment for twelve weeks. The Perceived Locus of Causality, the Perceived Enjoyment and Effort subscales of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, and the questionnaire which measured the intention to continue practicing track and field, were administered to the students before and after the experiment. Pre-and post-experimental physical fitness and track and field event performance measurements were recorded. Split plot ANOVAs were used to estimate the time and group interaction effect on each variable. The students in the IAAF Kids' Athletics group improved perceived effort and intention to continue practicing track and field more than those who were exposed to the skill learning method. They also regulated their motivation for track and field to a more self-determined direction, by improving the identified regulation. The same positive results were revealed for most of the physical fitness and event performance variables. In conclusion, the IAAF Kids' Athletics program can motivate elementary school students to learn track and field, by helping them to realize the importance of this sport and at the same time it can help them to improve their physical fitness and their track and field performance.

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