DOPING U CESKÝCH ADOLESCENTU: PREVALENCE A POSTOJE/Doping in Czech adolescents: prevalence and attitudes

• Published in: Československá psychologie Vol. 60; no. 5; p. 441
• Main Authors: Mudrák, Jirí, Slepicka, Pavel, Slepicková, Irena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Czech
• Published: Praha Institute of Psychology, Academy of Science 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Age differences; At risk youth; Athletes; Attitude surveys; Drugs & sports; Gender differences; International comparisons; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 0009-062X; 1804-6436

Objectives. International research shows that performance enhancing drugs (PED) represent a serious problem both in competitive and leisure sports, affecting not only adults but adolescent athletes as well. However, no recent studies of doping in adolescents are available in the Czech context. The aim of the study (conducted with a support of the World Anti-Doping Agency) is to explore the prevalence of doping in Czech adolescents and their attitudes toward doping. Sample and setting. 2851 Czech adolescents (mean age 16.2 years) participated in a questionnaire survey assessing their experience with doping and attitudes towards doping. Results. Czech adolescents reported relatively high level of doping in comparison with international studies: 8% of the respondents reported having had at least one-time experience with doping, and more than twice as much (16.9%) reported having been offered doping at least once. Doping was reported significantly more frequently by men, students of vocational schools, and students of sport schools. The highest prevalence of doping (12.3%) was found in elite athletes, followed by leisure athletes (8.9%). Doping was most frequently offered to elite athletes and competitive athletes: 25% of elite athletes reported having been offered doping at least once. In general, respondents reported negative attitudes towards doping. However, these attitudes were relatively positive compared to results of international studies. More negative attitudes towards doping were reported by older respondents, participating in sports more frequently, and at a higher level, coming from families of more educated and physically active parents. Study limitation. Results suggest that doping represents a risk behavior prevalent in a relative large portion of Czech adolescent population. However, the results are limited by using a questionnaire, the self-report method.