Empathic and Self-Regulatory Processes Governing Doping Behavior

Abstract

Evidence associating doping behavior with moral disengagement (MD) has accumulated over recent years. However, to date, research examining links between MD and doping has not considered key theoretically grounded influences and outcomes of MD. As such, there is a need for quantitative research in relevant populations that purposefully examines the explanatory pathways through which MD is thought to operate. Toward this end, the current study examined a conceptually grounded model of doping behavior that incorporated empathy, doping self-regulatory efficacy (SRE), doping MD, anticipated guilt and self-reported doping/doping susceptibility. Participants were specifically recruited to represent four key physical-activity contexts and consisted of team- (n = 195) and individual- (n = 169) sport athletes and hardcore- (n = 125) and corporate- (n = 121) gym exercisers representing both genders (nmale = 371; nfemale = 239); self-reported lifetime prevalence of doping across the sample was 13.6%. Each participant completed questionnaires assessing the aforementioned variables. Structural equation modeling indicated strong support for all study hypotheses. Specifically, we established: (a) empathy and doping SRE negatively predicted reported doping; (b) the predictive effects of empathy and doping SRE on reported doping were mediated by doping MD and anticipated guilt; (c) doping MD positively predicted reported doping; (d) the predictive effects of doping MD on reported doping were partially mediated by anticipated guilt. Substituting self-reported doping for doping susceptibility, multisample analyses then demonstrated these predictive effects were largely invariant between males and females and across the four physical-activity contexts represented. These findings extend current knowledge on a number of levels, and in doing so aid our understanding of key psychosocial processes that may govern doping behavior across key physical-activity contexts.

Refined Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Doping Survey Among Recreational Triathletes: Support for the Nutritional Supplement Gateway Hypothesis

“…In this context, motives and intentions behind the use of NS and also behind shifting toward doping are unknown and need to be explored before more tailored prevention interventions can be planned (Backhouse et al, 2013). Possible approaches to investigate the moderating role of achievement goals and motivation (Barkoukis et al, 2019) or self-regulatory efficacy (Boardley et al, 2017) could lead to new intervention strategies in future.…”

Perceptions of coach doping confrontation efficacy and athlete susceptibility to intentional and inadvertent doping

“…2,10 We also extended the predominant focus on technical coaches to consider strength and conditioning coaches, who work within environments where doping is prevalent. 11 In also identifying potential psychosocial processes linking athletes' perceptions of their coaches with doping outcomes and demonstrating replicability of the proposed model by sex and across athletes from three continents, this work offers several meaningful advancements to the doping knowledge base. Significant indirect effects showed athlete perceptions of technical and strength and conditioning coaches' DCE are linked with susceptibility to intentional and inadvertent doping through doping SRE and MD-factors previously associated with doping.…”

“…8 This possibility that changes in MD explain links between SRE and doping has previously been supported for self-reported doping. 11 That perceptions of technical and strength and conditioning coaches have distinct predictive capabilities highlight the importance of studying both types of coaches in doping research. Their distinct roles may explain the unique connections to doping susceptibility.…”

“…2,10 However, strength and conditioning coaches are also well placed to play a role in athlete doping because they interact with athletes in the gym environment, one often associated with doping. 11 Thus, it is important to consider strength and conditioning and technical coaches in doping research. Second, although research on doping has revealed a range of important insights, it has predominantly focused on intentional doping.…”

Toward an understanding of transgressive behavior in sport: Progress and prospects

“…Anticipated guilt has also been consistently and negatively associated with doping intentions in athletes from a variety of individual and team sports (e.g., Boardley, Smith, Mills, Grix, & Wynne, 2017;Kavussanu & Ring, 2017;Ring & Kavussanu, 2017).…”