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Mediating Mechanisms in a Program to Reduce Intentions to Use Anabolic Steroids and Improve Exercise Self-Efficacy and Dietary Behavior

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Abstract

This study investigated the mediating mechanisms responsible for the effects of a program designed to reduce intentions to use anabolic steroids, improve nutrition, and increase strength training self-efficacy. Fifteen of 31 high school football teams (N = 1,506 players at baseline) in Oregon and Washington were assigned to receive the intervention. The multicomponent program addressed the social influences promoting ergogenic drug use and engaging students in healthy nutrition and strength training alternative behaviors. Although the results differed across the three dependent variables, the program appeared to work by changing team norms. Unlike prevention of other drugs, changes in knowledge and perceived severity were mediators of program effects in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Arizona

    David P. MacKinnon & JeeWon Cheong

  2. Division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Oregon

    Linn Goldberg, Diane L. Elliot & Esther L. Moe

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Oregon

    Greg N. Clarke

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, California

    Angela Lapin

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Missouri, Missouri

    Jennifer L. Krull

Authors
  1. David P. MacKinnon
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  2. Linn Goldberg
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  3. Greg N. Clarke
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  4. Diane L. Elliot
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  5. JeeWon Cheong
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  6. Angela Lapin
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  7. Esther L. Moe
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  8. Jennifer L. Krull
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MacKinnon, D.P., Goldberg, L., Clarke, G.N. et al. Mediating Mechanisms in a Program to Reduce Intentions to Use Anabolic Steroids and Improve Exercise Self-Efficacy and Dietary Behavior. Prev Sci 2, 15–28 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010082828000

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