Are Athletes' Doping-Related Attitudes Predicted by Their Perceptions of Coaches' Confrontation Efficacy?

BACKGROUND: The coaching process is complex and dynamic. Coaches are known to affect athlete attitudes indirectly, through athletes' perceptions and interpretations. This process has been verified with a variety of ethical behaviors. OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated the relationships between athletes' perceived doping confrontation efficacy of their coaches and athlete's anti-doping attitudes. METHODS: A sample of athletes (N = 96) completed a version of the Doping Confrontation Efficacy Scale that was modified to assess their perception of their coaches' anti-doping confrontation efficacy, and the PEAS (Performance Enhancing Attitude Scale), which assessed their performance-enhancing attitudes. RESULTS: The results of a multiple linear regression model showed that perceived confrontation efficacy significantly predicted athletes' anti-doping attitudes. Specifically, the factor of efficacy with respect to intimacy was the sole significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that a pattern of athletes' interpretation of coaches' values is related to their own attitudes, much like with cheating and sportsmanship. This finding is consistent with the conceptualization of confrontation in general independent of sport.