Reflexive thematic analysis qualitative analysis of substance abuse in physical fitness tests related to physical education college entrance examinations among non-athlete students

Kun Wang *, Frank Hoo Kin Fu **/***, Zhaowei Kong ****, Minjia Wang *****, Chunshan Lou ******, Chenzhe Kang ******, Yifan Qin *******, Feifei Li ** and James Skinner ********

(*) Physical Education College, Yanching Institute of Technology, Langfang, China
(**) Dr Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
(***) Anti-Doping Committee, Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
(****) Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao, China
(*****) School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, China
(******) Physical Education College, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
(*******) Physical Education College, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
(********) Institute for Sport Business, Loughborough University, London, UK

Citation

Wang, K., Hoo Kin Fu, F., Kong, Z., Wang, M., Lou, C., Kang, C., Qin, Y., Li, F., Skinner, J. (2024). Reflexive thematic analysis qualitative analysis of substance abuse in physical fitness tests related to physical education college entrance examinations among non-athlete students. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 55(2), 129-152. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2024.55.129

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the associated factors to doping behavior among non-athlete adolescents. We qualitatively explored experiences of 23 participants who have taken physical fitness tests for admitting physical education college, and 16 of them were analyzed through a research process of conceptual framework based on thematic analysis. The personal factors contributing were: win-at-all-costs, FOMO and herd mentality, dispositional risk taking, and seeking self-confidence externally. Social factors were: obeying coaches, no involvement of parents, and school culture. Environmental factors were: successful entrance to college, lack of anti-doping restrictions, and no educational sessions of anti-doping. In conclusion, being ignorant and neglected by any anti-doping agency, goal oriented, moral disengagement, and being abetted by coach were the main determinants to substance-abuse behavior among adolescent students. Policy changing and education for students and coaches, along with enhancing the involvement of parents, are proposed as effective way to promote clean sport in schools.

Keywords: Adolescent, Non-athlete student, Doping, Danabol, physical edu- cation, physical fitness test