Mindfulness, psychological well-being and doping in talented young high-school athletes

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Nolte, Kim
Steyn, B.J.M. (Barend Johannes Marthinus)
Kruger, P.E. (Pieter Ernst)
Fletcher, Lizelle

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Southern African Alliance for Sport Science, Physical Education and Recreation

Abstract

The primary aim of this research was to determine how mindfulness and psychological well-being relate to the propensity to use Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) in a sample of talented young athletes. A secondary aim was to determine how mindfulness and psychological well-being are related. This was a survey study with a quantitative research approach. South African Academy athletes at a high performance centre and competitive high school athletes from four private high schools participated in the survey. In the survey, two validated questionnaires (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [FFMQ] and Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale), and a self-constructed questionnaire to establish the propensity of athletes to use PEDs were employed. 346 athletes (208 boys, 138 girls) aged M=16.0, SD=1.4 years participated. There was a significant correlation (r=0.32, p=0.00) between overall mindfulness and psychological well-being as measured by the FFMQ and Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale respectively. Two possible predictors of propensity to use PEDs were identified by means of logistic regression and cross tabulation. It is concluded that mindfulness and psychological well-being were inversely related to the propensity to use PEDs.

Description

Keywords

Anti-doping, Performance-enhancing drugs, Psychological well-being, Mindfulness

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Nolte, K, Steyn, BJM, Kruger, PE & Fletcher, L 2016, 'Mindfulness, psychological well-being and doping in talented young high-school athletes', South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation/Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Navorsing in Sport, Liggaamlike Opvoedkunde en Ontspanning, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 153-165.