Psychological drivers in doping: the life-cycle model of performance enhancement / Andrea Petróczi, Eugene Aidman. - (Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 3 (2008); 7)

• PMID: 18331645
• PMCID: PMC2315642
• DOI: 10.1186/1747-597X-3-7

Abstract

Background: Performance enhancement (PE) is a natural and essential ingredient of competitive sport. Except for nutritional supplement contamination, accidental use of doping is highly unlikely. It requires deliberation, planning and commitment; and is influenced by a host of protective and risk factors.

Hypothesis: In the course of their career, athletes constantly set goals and make choices regarding the way these goals can be achieved. The cycle of choice - goal commitment - execution - feedback on goal attainment - goal evaluation/adjustment has numerous exit points, each providing an opportunity for behaviour change, which may or may not be related to the use of prohibited methods. The interplay between facilitating and inhibiting systemic and personality factors, constantly influenced by situational factors could result in an outcome vector of 'doping attitudes', which combines with subjective norms to influence intentions to choose prohibited PE methods. These influences also vary from one stage of athlete development to the next, making some athletes more vulnerable to engaging in doping practices than others, and more vulnerable at certain time periods - and not others.

Testing the hypothesis: Model-testing requires a series of carefully planned and coordinated studies. Correlational studies can establish relationships where the directionality is not-known or not important. Experimental studies with the manipulation of doping expectancies and risk factors can be used to demonstrate causality and evaluate potential intervention strategies. The final model can be tested via a behavioural simulation, with outcomes compared to those expected from literature precedence or used as a simulated computer game for empirical data collection.

Implications: A hypothesized life-cycle model of PE identifies vulnerability factors across the stages of athlete development with the view of informing the design of anti-doping assessment and intervention. The model suggests that, instead of focusing on the actual engagement in prohibited PE practices, deterrence strategies are likely to be more effective if they target the influencing factors at the appropriate stage and identify groups of athletes and their respective career stages, which pose particular risks of engagement in doping practices. This enables a more effective intervention approach by targeting specific risk factors and expectancies.

Psychosocial factors and performance enhancing substances in gym users : A systematic review / Ana Sofia R. Tavares, Sidónio Serpa, Luís Horta, António Rosado. - (Revista de Psichología del Deporte = Journal of Sport Psychology 28 (2019) 1; p. 131-142)

Abstract

The use of performance-enhancing substances (PES) occurs among gym/fitness center users. This systematic review aimed to analyze studies describing prevalence, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge, as conceptualized in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), influenced by the use of PES by this population. Twenty-six articles were identified from a systematic approach following the PRISMA statement via electronic databases (SPORTDiscusTM, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, B-On and Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection) and hand-searching bibliographies of reference lists. Only peer-reviewed primary research published in English, Portuguese and Spanish (1997-2016), focusing on gym/fitness center users and providing information on psychosocial factors (e.g., attitudes, beliefs, intention, social influence/ peer pressure) towards using PES, were included. It was concluded that the most prevalent substance used were anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). Attitudes of male bodybuilders using AAS as the prevalent drug are mainly related to aesthetic issues. Important influences come from groups (e.g., friends, training colleagues) and instructors. Although some AAS users indicated a general lack of knowledge of the potentially harmful effects of these drugs, others were aware of the side effects. The TPB illustrated a relationship between psychosocial factors influencing gym users to use PES.

Psychosocial factors facilitating use of cognitive enhancing drugs in education : a qualitative investigation of moral disengagement and associated processes / Andrew Robert Heyes, Ian David Boardley

• Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy 26 (2019) 4, p. 329-338
• DOI:10.1080/09687637.2019.1586831
• Special Issue: Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancement

Abstract

Illicit use of prescription drugs (e.g. modafinil) to enhance academic performance – termed cognitive enhancement (CE) – is a legal, health, and ethical issue. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory of moral thought and action, this study investigated whether student users of CE evidenced specific psychosocial mechanisms (i.e. mechanisms of moral disengagement) when explaining their reasons for CE. Following ethical approval from the lead author’s institution, in-depth-semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine students with experience of CE. Data were content analysed deductively, using definitions for the eight mechanisms of moral disengagement; six of the eight mechanisms were identified through data analysis: diffusion of responsibility (DR), advantageous comparison (AC), distortion of consequences (DCs), displacement of responsibility, moral justification, and euphemistic labelling. In addition, inductive data analysis identified three further themes; self-medication, family and friends, and institutional position. Overall, the study findings suggest students may morally disengage to justify and rationalise use of CE to minimise negative emotional responses (e.g. guilt) that may be expected to result given the potential legal-, health-, and ethics-based deterrents to CE.

Public health impact and implications of the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and associated drugs amongst the male general population / James McVeigh. - Liverpool : Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), 2009

• Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University
• DOI: 10.24377/LJMU.T.00010247

Abstract:

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and associated drug use is now recognised as a significant concern and an emerging public health issue. Once restricted to the elite sporting arena, recent decades have seen AAS diffuse through bodybuilding and gym culture to an increasingly image conscious general population. This portfolio of research contributes to our understanding of this phenomenon in relation to our understanding of the extent and characteristics of AAS use, emerging harms and the policy response to the issue, as summarised below.

While specific prevalence is unknown, data from needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) indicate growing numbers of people who inject AAS and associated drugs. Often portrayed in the media as a homogenous group of young male, working class men, a growing body of research indicates a much more diverse population in relation to demographic characteristics and motivations for use. Further research indicates that this is by no means confined to the United Kingdom (UK) but is a global public health issue although barely recognised in some countries such as the Republic of Ireland.

Changes in the specific drugs of use and the regimes employed have been identified, with a growing pharmacopeia of easily accessible and affordable peptide hormones being used as a direct result of the rise of the Internet, coupled with developments in manufacturing and transportation. Opinion, anecdote and targeted marketing on the Internet fill the void of a lack of empirical evidence in the field of AAS, image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) influencing a trend towards higher dosages, multiple drugs and prolonged use. Drug use is not confined to IPEDs, with psychoactive drug use identified in populations in UK and Internationally.

Our understanding of the chronic health harms associated with AAS has increased over the last 25 years, in particular cardiovascular damage, psychological harms and the potential for dependence. However, this research has made a significant contribution to the recognition and understanding of the harms associated with the administration of these drugs through injection and the impact of adulterated products as a result of the illicit market. The extent of localised infection and soft tissue injury is a cause for concern, an issue previously neglected. Of further concern is the prevalence of blood borne virus (BBV) infection within the population of AAS users. In the first studies of their kind, HIV amongst AAS injectors has been shown to be at a similar level as that in psychoactive drug injectors in the UK. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C levels were identified as being higher than in the general population, and of key concern is the low levels of awareness of hepatitis C positive status amongst AAS injectors.

The UK has operated a comprehensive NSP system since the 1980s, which has seen increasing numbers of AAS injectors however, there remains barriers to engagement with this population of people who inject drugs. Data from interviews and surveys submitted here identify a level of mistrust and lack of confidence among AAS users when it comes to engaging with health professionals.

Pure Kracht : een effectief trainingsprogramma voor maximale power / red. Arien Bosch. - Koninklijke Nederlandse Krachtsport en Fitnessfederatie (KNKF); Nederlands Centrum voor Dopingvraagstukken (NeCeDo). - Utrecht : Forte Uitgevers, 2006
ISBN10 9058776417
ISBN13 9789058776419

Pure kracht is een uniek krachtsportprogramma bestaande uit de componenten training, voeding en mentaal. Een programma dat bewezen heeft dat je met de juiste inzet en een uitgebalanceerd trainingsprogramma opmerkelijke resultaten kunt behalen. Welke resultaten je kunt behalen, hoe je dit moet doen en wat je hiervoor moet laten, staat in dit boek centraal.

Pure kracht is ontwikkeld door een team van internationale experts die ook betrokken zijn bij de begeleiding van onze Olympische sporters. Het programma heeft al onomstotelijk bewezen dat je in een korte periode een krachttoename kunt verwezenlijken van meer dan 50% en een paar kilo aan spiermassa kunt winnen.

Bevat tevens de ervaringen, belevenissen en resultaten van een team van zeven sporters die het Pure kracht-programma volgden.

Dit boek is aanbevolen door de Koninklijke Nederlandse Krachtsport en Fitnessfederatie (KNKF).

ASADA believes in pure performance in sport. The 'Pure Performance in Sport' video has been produced to highlight to athletes, coaches, the families of athletes and everyone involved in sport what you can and can't do, how drug testing works and a lot more.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is a government statutory authority that is Australia's driving force for pure performance in sport. It is the organisation with prime responsibility for implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in Australia.

ASADA believes in pure performance in sport. The 'Pure Performance in Sport' video has been produced to highlight to athletes, coaches, the families of athletes and everyone involved in sport what you can and can't do, how drug testing works and a lot more.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is a government statutory authority that is Australia's driving force for pure performance in sport. It is the organisation with prime responsibility for implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in Australia.

ASADA believes in pure performance in sport. The 'Pure Performance in Sport' video has been produced to highlight to athletes, coaches, the families of athletes and everyone involved in sport what you can and can't do, how drug testing works and a lot more.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is a government statutory authority that is Australia's driving force for pure performance in sport. It is the organisation with prime responsibility for implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in Australia.

ASADA believes in pure performance in sport. The 'Pure Performance in Sport' video has been produced to highlight to athletes, coaches, the families of athletes and everyone involved in sport what you can and can't do, how drug testing works and a lot more.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is a government statutory authority that is Australia's driving force for pure performance in sport. It is the organisation with prime responsibility for implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in Australia.

ASADA believes in pure performance in sport. The 'Pure Performance in Sport' video has been produced to highlight to athletes, coaches, the families of athletes and everyone involved in sport what you can and can't do, how drug testing works and a lot more.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is a government statutory authority that is Australia's driving force for pure performance in sport. It is the organisation with prime responsibility for implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in Australia.