title: Perfectionism and attitudes towards doping in junior athletes.
abstract: Recent theory and research suggest that perfectionism is a personal factor contributing to athletes' vulnerability to doping (using banned substances/drugs to enhance sporting performance). So far, however, no study has examined what aspects of perfectionism suggest a vulnerability in junior athletes. Employing a cross-sectional design, this study examined perfectionism and attitudes towards doping in 129 male junior athletes (mean age 17.3 years) differentiating four aspects of perfectionism: perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, parental pressure to be perfect, and coach pressure to be perfect. In the bivariate correlations, only parental pressure showed a positive relationship with positive doping attitudes. In a multiple regression analysis controlling for the overlap between the four aspects, perfectionistic strivings additionally showed a negative relationship. Moreover, a structural equation model examining the relationships between all variables suggested that coach pressure had a negative indirect effect on attitudes towards doping via perfectionistic strivings. The findings indicate that perceived parental pressure to be perfect may be a factor contributing to junior athletes' vulnerability to doping, whereas perfectionistic strivings may be a protective factor.
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport & Exercise Sciences , University of Kent , Chatham Maritime , Kent ME4 4AG , UK.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.affiliation: b School of Psychology , University of Kent , Canterbury , Kent CT2 7NP , UK.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoeber
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport & Exercise Sciences , University of Kent , Chatham Maritime , Kent ME4 4AG , UK.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Passfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis
keywords: Perfectionism; attitudes towards doping; junior athletes; performance-enhancing drugs; performance-enhancing substances; sport