Risk factors for health: Empirical contribution on doping abuse in adolescents

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate whether behavioural intentions toward doping use in adolescents could be predicted by the variables considered within the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Two variables have been added to the basic model: past use of ergogenic supplements and a moral disengagement measure. A total of 952 Italian students participated in the study. A multigroup confirmatory approach was considered, testing whether theoretical relations hypothesised in the model were stable across gender and across type of involvement in sport. The model fit data satisfactorily. Regression coefficients resulted to be stable across gender and across different type of involvement in sport. Attitudes were the strongest predictor of intention to use doping substances; subjective norms showed a moderate impact on criterion, whereas perceived behavioural control gave a small, albeit significant, contribution. Past use of supplements and moral disengagement significantly predicted the intention to use doping substances.