Adaptation and Validation of the Lithuanian Version of the Sport-Specific Doping Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale

Abstract

Background: Use of banned performance enhancing substances in sport is one of the most widely recognized anti-doping rules violation. Research evidence suggests that self-regulatory efficiency is one of the key psychosocial processes related with doping. Therefore, aiming to generate more insights on the self-regulatory efficacy, sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale was proposed. The aim of the present study was to adapt and validate the Lithuanian version of the sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale. Material and Methods: The scale construct validity and reliability was tested using a sample of 453 athletes (mean age 20.37, SD = 2.29; 46% male). Structural validity was assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, convergent and discriminant validity of the scale were evaluated by assessing average variance extracted and also via correlational analyses. Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability values were used for reliability analysis. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the one factor structure of the sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale. The results also indicated that the scale had sufficient convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed an excellent level of internal consistency. Conclusions: This study makes a contribution by confirming the validity and reliability of the Lithuanian version of the sport-specific doping self-regulatory efficacy scale.

Perceived Coach-Created Empowering and Disempowering Climate Effects on Athletes’ Intentions to Use Doping: The Mediational Role of Self-Regulatory Efficacy and Attitudes towards Doping

“…The Sport-Specific Doping Self-Regulatory Efficacy Scale [ 15 , 38 ] adapted to the Lithuanian context [ 39 ] was used to measure athletes’ perceived ability to resist doping. Participants had to express how confident they were in their ability to refrain from using illegal substances to enhance performance in sport by evaluating seven items (e.g., “When most athletes in your sport use them”, and “When pressured to do so by others”) by using a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 ( not at all confident ) to 7 ( completely confident ).…”

“…Higher scores reflect a stronger athlete’s perceived ability to refrain from using illegal substances. Previous studies have shown that the reliability of this scale was very good (α = 0.96) [ 39 ].…”