Psychosocial predictors of doping intentions and use in sport and exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo conduct a meta-analytic review of psychosocial predictors of doping intention, doping use and inadvertent doping in sport and exercise settings.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesScopus, Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL Plus, ProQuest Dissertations/Theses and Open Grey.Eligibility criteriaStudies (of any design) that measured the outcome variables of doping intention, doping use and/or inadvertent dopingandat least one psychosocial determinant of those three variables.ResultsWe included studies from 25 experiments (N=13 586) and 186 observational samples (N=3 09 130). Experimental groups reported lower doping intentions (g=−0.21, 95% CI (−0.31 to –0.12)) and doping use (g=−0.08, 95% CI (−0.14 to –0.03), but not inadvertent doping (g=−0.70, 95% CI (−1.95 to 0.55)), relative to comparators. For observational studies, protective factors were inversely associated with doping intentions (z=−0.28, 95% CI −0.31 to –0.24), doping use (z=−0.09, 95% CI −0.13 to to –0.05) and inadvertent doping (z=−0.19, 95% CI −0.32 to –0.06). Risk factors were positively associated with doping intentions (z=0.29, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.32) and use (z=0.17, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.19), but not inadvertent doping (z=0.08, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.22). Risk factors for both doping intentions and use included prodoping norms and attitudes, supplement use, body dissatisfaction and ill-being. Protective factors for both doping intentions and use included self-efficacy and positive morality.ConclusionThis study identified several protective and risk factors for doping intention and use that may be viable intervention targets for antidoping programmes. Protective factors were negatively associated with inadvertent doping; however, the empirical volume is limited to draw firm conclusions.