Attitudes and Intentions of Greek Athletes and Coaches Regarding Doping

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine athletes' and coaches' attitudes and intentions with regard to doping, using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. This model [1], explains all the behaviors which are related to self-control, based to the theory that intentions are influenced by attitude, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. The variable "morality" was added to the original model. One hundred and forty-three athletes (mean age = 20.93 ± 2.90) who were involved in competitive sports and 50 coaches (mean age = 35.74 ± 7.80) participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered to assess the demographics (age, gender, sport type, competitive level, years of sport participation and education), attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, morality and doping choices of athletes and coaches with regard to doping. The results showed that attitudes (62%), perceived behavioral control (3%), and morality (4%) were significant predictors of athletes' intentions to engage in doping choices but that coaches' only attitudes were the most important predictor of intentions to engage in doping choices (72%). The most important predictors of 1 st and 2 nd doping choices were intentions (78% and 68%) and perceived behavioral control (1%) for athletes and intentions (84% and 79%) for coaches.

The performance enhancement attitude scale (PEAS) reached ‘adulthood’: Lessons and recommendations from a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Deliberative attitude assessment adapted to specific research context often utilize semantic differential measures (e.g., Barkoukis et al, 2014;Chantal & Bernache-Assollant, 2015;Girelli et al, 2020;Horcajo & Luttrell, 2016;Horcajo et al, 2019;Horcajo et al, 2020;Lazuras et al, 2010;Patiro et al, 2016;Psouni et al, 2015). Items for this type of attitude measure typically ask respondents to place the concept of doping (in general) or a specific doping behavior between the extreme ends of semantic differential pairs.…”

Paralympic athletes’ perspective of doping self-regulatory efficacy in Nigeria

“…Noteworthy, it points out that individual attitude (volitional) and acceptable norms (non-volitional) as major predictors of athletic behavioural responses. In congruence with these and athletic doping perceptions, Chan et al (2015) and Psouni et al (2015) revealed that perception of attitude is an important factor among the reasons for athletes' using doping, and it has also been found that attitudes and behaviors of coaches on this topic influence the attitudes and behaviors of the athletes and thus their use of doping substances. These imply that for athletes to dope or not, conform or not with the WADA, various factors (cues) within and out of the athletes control come into play.…”

Doping in Sports: Athletes’ and Coaches’ Views

“…These substances cause a variety of health problems, ranging from the risk of fertility loss to hypertension or psychiatric behavioral disorders, as well as entailing some ethical problems (Mallia, Lucidi, Zelli & Violani, 2013). Due to such factors as media publicity, expectations of financial gain, perfectionism, pain relief, additional weight loss, increases in performance, and personal attitudes and sports commercialization, unfortunately the tendency to use doping is increasing nowadays (Hoff, 2015;Lazuras, Barkoukis & Tsorbatzoudis, 2015;Ntoumanis, Barkoukis, Gucciardi & Chan, 2017;Psouni, Zourbanos & Theodorakis, 2015).…”

“…The theory emphasizes that these behaviors are formed by faith, passion, social influence, attitude, and motivation (De-Leeuw, Valois, Ajzen & Schmidt, 2015). Based on the model of Planned Behavior Theory, a study of the attitudes and intentions of athletes and coaches toward doping by Psouni et al (2015) revealed that perception of attitude is an important factor among the reasons for athletes' using doping, and it has also been found that attitudes and behaviors of coaches on this topic influence the attitudes and behaviors of the athletes and thus their use of doping substances (Chan et al, 2015). Planned Behavior Theory is taken as the basis of this study examining the social effects on people using doping in sports, perceived behavioral control, attitudes and beliefs (Kirby et al, 2016), and the positive and negative emotions determining their choices (Ajzen & Driver).…”