Pathways to Risky Behavior: Perfectionism, Doping Intention, and Moral Disengagement Among Elite Athletes

Abstract

Background: Doping is a major risky behavior, ethical concern, and health threat in competitive sports. Psychological factors have been associated with athletes’ susceptibility to and intention to engage in doping; however, evidence regarding the cognitive and moral processes underlying these associations among elite athletes remains limited. Objectives: This study examined indirect association of moral disengagement in relationship between perfectionism and doping intentions among elite Iranian athletes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 251 elite Iranian athletes. Data were collected using validated questionnaires assessing perfectionism, moral disengagement, and doping intention. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted using SmartPLS. Results: Perfectionism was positively associated with doping intention (r = 0.67, P < 0.001). In the structural model, perfectionism was significantly associated with moral disengagement (β = 0.59, P < 0.001) and with doping intention (β = 0.28, P < 0.001). Moral disengagement was also positively associated with doping intention (β = 0.70, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings support a significant cross-sectional indirect association between perfectionism and doping intention via moral disengagement. However, given the cross-sectional design, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of causal pathways. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationships.