Does social desirability influence the relationship between doping attitudes and doping susceptibility in athletes?

ObjectivesGiven the sensitive nature of performance-enhancing drug use or doping in sport, obtaining reliable information on attitudes to doping may be severely compromised by socially desirable responding.MethodsThe influence of social desirability on the relationship between attitudes to doping and doping susceptibility was examined in 224 Australian athletes. Participants completed a questionnaire package containing items tapping the three constructs of interest. Data analyses focused on mediation and moderation effects using structural equation modelling and hierarchical regression analysis respectively.ResultsStructural equation modelling analyses showed social desirability to partially mediate the association between doping attitudes and doping susceptibility, whereas regression analyses revealed strong support for the presence of a moderation effect of social desirability.ConclusionsAs a limitation of self-reported data, these findings highlight the importance of controlling for social desirability when obtaining athletes’ self-reported attitudes towards doping and their susceptibility for engaging in doping in sport.