A Pilot Study of a Cognitive-Behavioral and Meaning-Centered Intervention to Mitigate Doping-Related Distress

Doping experiences and related suspicions can produce lasting psychological distress in athletes, including anxiety, guilt, and depressive symptoms. Addressing these consequences requires interventions that combine cognitive-behavioral strategies with meaning-centered techniques to promote emotional recovery and ethical self-reflection.

This pilot study evaluated a cognitive-behavioral and meaning-centered intervention designed to reduce anxiety and depression among athletes affected by doping-related distress. Thirty-nine current or former Romanian athletes participated in a six-session program integrating cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and exercises focused on purpose and self-transcendence. Standardized measures of anxiety, depression, and meaning in sports were administered before and after the intervention.

Higher baseline levels of meaning and purpose in sports were negatively correlated with both depression and anxiety. Pre-post comparisons showed a small reduction in anxiety and a moderate reduction in depression, alongside a small increase in meaning and values/spirituality in sport, as reflected by effect sizes. All psychometric measures demonstrated high internal consistency. Network analyses identified central items within each scale at pretest and posttest.

A meaning-centered cognitive-behavioral framework may enhance resilience, promote ethical awareness, and support psychological recovery in athletes experiencing doping-related distress. These preliminary results encourage further controlled studies to confirm efficacy and refine the integration of meaning-oriented techniques in sports psychology interventions.