Die Vertrauenswürdigkeit der Anti-Doping Arbeit von Sportverbänden

In dieser Arbeit wird die Vertrauenswürdigkeit der Anti-Doping Arbeit von Sportverbänden in sechs empirischen Studien analysiert. Dabei werden Erkenntnisse darüber gewonnen, ob Sportverbände von ihren Athlet*innen als vertrauenswürdig wahrgenommen werden (Ebene 1), ob eine transparente Anti-Doping Arbeit die Vertrauenswürdigkeit von Sportverbänden stärken kann (Ebene 2) und wie Sportverbände ihre Anti-Doping Arbeit aufbauen, organisieren und präsentieren können, um als vertrauenswürdig von verschiedenen Abnehmern des Sports (Wirtschaft, Politik, Zuschauer, Medien) und den Athletinnen und Athleten wahrgenommen zu werden (Ebene 3). Hierbei wird ein Fokus auf die digitalen Medien gelegt, da diese durch die Veränderungen der Mediatisierung einen zentralen Stellenwert in der Berichterstattung und in der Außendarstellung des Sports eingenommen haben. Darüber hinaus wird ein Fragebogen zu Vertrauen im Rahmen der Arbeit aus der Wirtschaftspsychologie auf das Themenfeld des Sports adaptiert und validiert. Abschließend bietet diese Arbeit empirische und praktische Hinweise zum Stellenwert der Vertrauenswürdigkeit von Sportverbänden für eine gelingende Anti-Doping Arbeit

Perception of the Current Anti-doping Regime – A Quantitative Study Among German Top-Level Cyclists and Track and Field Athletes

In recent years anti-doping organizations have implemented various measures to deter elite athletes from using performance-enhancing drugs. One of the main challenges in the fight against doping is that the effectiveness of these anti-doping measures is still unknown. Since the effectiveness of the measures depends primarily on the athletes’ perception, this study focuses on the following four objectives: (1) How effective do top-level athletes perceive individual anti-doping measures to be? (2) Are the results stable across different sports and (3) genders? (4) How can the anti-doping measures be structured into appropriate categories? To address these issues the perceived effectiveness of 14 anti-doping measures was surveyed among 146 top athletes from Germany (Cycling: N = 42; Athletics: N = 104) who are members of at least the National Testing Pool. Results reveal significant differences in the perceived effectiveness of the anti-doping measures. Improved diagnostics were considered to be the most effective remedy for doping, followed by increased bans and the implementation of an anti-doping law. In contrast, fines and a leniency program were considered significantly less effective. Second, with the exception of indirect detection methods and increased use of an Anti-Doping Administration and Management System, results were consistent across cyclists and track and field athletes. Third, no significant gender difference was observed. Finally, an exploratory factor analysis showed that all anti-doping measures can be classified into the three categories risk of detection (e.g., control frequency and efficiency), punishment (e.g., fines and bans) and communication (e.g., education program). The results of this study provide a guideline for future research and for anti-doping and sport organizations when developing strategies against doping and allocating their anti-doping budget

Validity and reliability of a pictorial scale of physical self-concept in spanish children. [Validez y fiabilidad de la escala pictográfica de autoconcepto físico en niños y niñas españoles].

The pictorial scale of Physical Self-Concept in Children (P-PSC-C) is a relatively new instrument for investigating physical self-concept in childhood. The current study aims to examine the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the P-PSC-C, and also to analyse the validity according to the children’s age. A sample of 365 primary school age (M = 9.21, SD = 1.92) students participated; divided in two groups, those aged 9 or younger and those 10-11 years old. Surveys were used to assess perceived physical concept individually. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with diagonally weighted least square estimator specifically designed for ordinal data and a scaled test statistic was conducted. Ordinal alpha using a polychoric correlation matrix and Kendall’s τ were used to analyse reliability and correlation between items, respectively. The results of the CFA showed a one-dimensional excellent fit for the whole sample. According to the age groups, the CFA revealed that the item assessing flexibility had a low factor loading for older children ( = .11). Weak invariance was shown for gender. Item statistics and reliability values were otherwise good. This study shows a high potential for the pictorial scale to be suitable for the given age groups in measuring physical self-concept. Resumen La escala pictográfica de Autoconcepto Físico en niños y niñas es un instrumento novedoso para investigar el autoconcepto físico en la niñez. Este estudio pretende analizar la validez y fiabilidad de la versión española de la escala pictográfica de Autoconcepto Físico en niños y niñas, también según su edad. En el estudio participó una muestra de 365 niños y niñas (M = 9.21, D.T. = 1.92) de centros educativos de infantil y primaria que fueron divididos en dos grupos, aquellos de 9 años o menores y los de 10-11 años. Se realizaron entrevistas individuales para medir el autoconcepto físico. Se aplicaron pruebas de análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) con estimaciones específicas ponderadas de mínimos cuadrados diseñado específicamente para datos ordinales. Para analizar la fiabilidad y correlación entre ítems, se utilizó una matriz policórica de correlación y la τ de Kendall, respectivamente. Los resultados del AFC para toda la muestra de estudio mostraron un ajuste unidimensional excelente. Respecto a la validez según los grupos de edad, los AFC mostraron que el ítem de flexibilidad tuvo una carga factorial baja e insuficiente en los niños de mayor edad ( = .11). Según el sexo, la invarianza fue débil. Los datos estadísticos de los ítems y la fiabilidad fueron buenos. Este estudio muestra un alto potencial para la utilización de la escala pictográfica para medir el autoconcepto físico en los grupos de edad analizados. La escala pictográfica de autoconcepto físico es relativamente nueva para estudiar el autoconcepto físico en la niñez

(e)Sport sein oder nicht sein? Das ist nicht die Frage! Warum und wie die Sport- und Bewegungspsychologie den eSport erforschen könnte

Whether esports can be considered a sport is highly debated. The German Olympic Sport Federation (DOSB) and the German Society for Sport Sciences (DVS) recently stated that esports should not be integrated into the canon of sport. Our aim is not to further fuel this debate but rather to argue that to be or not to be sport is not the most important question from a scientific perspective. After summarizing the current discussion on whether esports constitute a sport, this paper discusses why and how sport and exercise psychology (SEP), in particular, could research esports. To exploit research opportunities in esports, such as adapting validated methods and testing existing models, scholars in SEP could examine the aspects arising from its positional stance. We argue that the potential of SEP approaches, models, and methods, positions it well to play an important role in research on esports. The present perspective provides a starting point for a constructive discourse on the development of SEP and the potential for its role in esports research.Universität Leipzig (1039)Peer Reviewe

Understanding physical (in-) activity, overweight, and obesity in childhood: Effects of congruence between physical self-concept and motor competence

Both the physical self-concept and actual motor competence are important for healthy future physical activity levels and consequently decrease overweight and obesity in childhood. However, children scoring high on motor competence do not necessarily report high levels of physical self-concept and vice versa, resulting in respective (in-) accuracy also referred to as (non-) veridicality. This study examines whether children’s accuracy of physical self-concept is a meaningful predictive factor for their future physical activity. Motor competence, physical self-concept and physical activity were assessed in 3rd grade and one year later in 4th grade. Children’s weight status was categorized based on WHO recommendations. Polynomial regression with Response surface analyses were conducted with a quasi-DIF approach examining moderating weight status effects. Analyses revealed that children with higher motor competence levels and higher self-perceptions show greater physical activity. Importantly, children who perceive their motor competence more accurately (compared to less) show more future physical activity. This effect is strong for underweight and overweight/obese children, but weak for normal weight children. This study indicates that an accurate self-perception of motor competence fosters future physical activity beyond single main effects, respectively. Hence, the promotion of actual motor competence should be linked with the respective development of accurate self-knowledge

Validity and reliability of a pictorial scale of physical self-concept in spanish children. [Validez y fiabilidad de la escala pictográfica de autoconcepto físico en niños y niñas españoles].

AbstractThe pictorial scale of Physical Self-Concept in Children (P-PSC-C) is a relatively new instrument for investigating physical self-concept in childhood. The current study aims to examine the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the P-PSC-C, and also to analyse the validity according to the children’s age. A sample of 365 primary school age (M = 9.21, SD = 1.92) students participated; divided in two groups, those aged 9 or younger and those 10-11 years old. Surveys were used to assess perceived physical concept individually. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with diagonally weighted least square estimator specifically designed for ordinal data and a scaled test statistic was conducted. Ordinal alpha using a polychoric correlation matrix and Kendall’s τ were used to analyse reliability and correlation between items, respectively. The results of the CFA showed a one-dimensional excellent fit for the whole sample. According to the age groups, the CFA revealed that the item assessing flexibility had a low factor loading for older children ( = .11). Weak invariance was shown for gender. Item statistics and reliability values were otherwise good. This study shows a high potential for the pictorial scale to be suitable for the given age groups in measuring physical self-concept.ResumenLa escala pictográfica de Autoconcepto Físico en niños y niñas es un instrumento novedoso para investigar el autoconcepto físico en la niñez. Este estudio pretende  analizar la validez y fiabilidad de la versión española de la escala pictográfica de Autoconcepto Físico en niños y niñas, también según su edad. En el estudio participó una muestra de 365 niños y niñas (M = 9.21, D.T. = 1.92) de centros educativos de infantil y primaria que fueron divididos en dos grupos, aquellos de 9 años o menores y los de 10-11 años. Se realizaron entrevistas individuales para medir el autoconcepto físico. Se aplicaron pruebas de análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) con estimaciones específicas ponderadas de mínimos cuadrados diseñado específicamente para datos ordinales. Para analizar la fiabilidad y correlación entre ítems, se utilizó una matriz policórica de correlación y la τ de Kendall, respectivamente. Los resultados del AFC para toda la muestra de estudio mostraron un ajuste unidimensional excelente. Respecto a la validez según los grupos de edad, los AFC mostraron que el ítem de flexibilidad tuvo una carga factorial baja e insuficiente en los niños de mayor edad ( = .11). Según el sexo, la invarianza fue débil. Los datos estadísticos de los ítems y la fiabilidad fueron buenos. Este estudio muestra un alto potencial para la utilización de la escala pictográfica para medir el autoconcepto físico en los grupos de edad analizados. 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The role of comprehensive education in anti-doping policy legitimacy and support among clean athletes

Objectives: Anti-doping policies represent a group of regulations and procedures that are applied by anti-doping organizations in order to safeguard sports against doping. Evidence implies that, for anti-doping policies to be effective, they need to be endorsed by athletes. Still, there is scarce evidence on the process through which athletes decide to endorse and support anti-doping policies and the role of anti-doping education. The main objective of the study was to empirically examine a behavioural model of active anti-doping policy support. Methods: A self-reported survey with measures of perceived anti-doping legitimacy, social support via expected obedience, perceived trustworthiness and social cognitive variables associated with anti-doping policy support (attitudes, social norms, descriptive norms, perceived behavioural control, regret, and intention) was completed by 1328 competitive athletes in 6 countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Serbia, UK). Results: Athletes who live in countries with comprehensive (emphasis on individual development and competency with a focus on sport and personal integrity) anti-doping education (ADE) and had received ADE are more supportive of anti-doping policies than athletes from countries with basic education provision anti-doping education (information type education). Furthermore, athletes who received ADE reported significantly higher levels of perceived legitimacy, trustworthiness, and obedience. The results of the SEM revealed that perceptions of legitimacy had both direct and indirect effects on intentions to support anti-doping policies. The effect of perceptions of legitimacy was mediated by social cognitive variables, which demonstrated strong direct effects on intentions. Importantly, the model was invariant across the countries, although mean differences in several constructs emerged. Conclusions: Anti-doping milieu and education impact athletes’ willingness to support anti-doping policies. Interventions targeting legitimacy beliefs and social cognitive variables can be effective in promoting anti-doping policy support in competitive athletes. These interventions should expand beyond anti-doping policy legitimacy and target the specific beliefs (e.g., norms) that are pertinent to policy support in different countries

Context matters: athletes’ perception of dopers’ values, actions and vulnerabilities

Background Although athletes seem to hold uniform views towards non-dopers, their perception of dopers is more nuanced, reflecting positive and negative attributes. Research also indicates that rarely a single factor can explain doping, but a host of reasons that intertwine. A holistic understanding of how values play a role in decisions in anti-doping and the elements that influence athletes’ doping vulnerability is timely and warranted. Methods We recruited elite athletes from 13 countries representing 27 sports at a national or international level (N = 60) to participate as part of a larger research project. Data were collected via focus group interviews focusing on values, value priorities and perceptions about the role of values in doping as a phenomenon and in dopers’ actions. Data were analysed using iterative thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified: (1) athletes’ personal stance on doping, (2) dopers in the eyes of the anti-doping-compliant athletes, and (3) doping vulnerability is a balance. Athletes in this study strongly opposed doping but showed empathy and understanding toward athletes who doped under certain circumstances. Furthermore, athletes believed that “clean” and “doping” athletes are not always distinguished by the values they hold, leading to the realisation that all athletes can be vulnerable to doping at some point. This vulnerability is a balance between risks and protective factors in a complex interaction between environmental, personal, and situational influences. Each element (e.g., values, environment) can be a motivator or a barrier. Consequently, doping vulnerability is highly idiosyncratic and dynamic. Conclusion If doping is not due to a lack of moral values but the consequences of combined risk factors that override the guiding function of values, then doping can happen to anyone, “good” athletes included. Developers and facilitators of anti-doping education programmes are advised to embrace this important aspect. The results also contribute to developing the doping vulnerability concept as a balance between risks and protective factors and draw attention to the clean athlete vulnerability, which is rooted in the combination of strategic performance enhancement via non-prohibited means, their exposure to anti-doping requirements and the constant high level of suspicion that surrounds them.</p