High consistency of interest but not perseverance of effort is related to doping via moral disengagement: a cross-sectional study of grit

Grit, defined as consistency of interest and perseverance of effort toward long-term goals, is the trait that allows individuals to persist despite adversity. The temptation to dope and moral disengagement can increase under competitive pressure, during injury recovery, and in high-performance situations. Research suggests grit can buffer moral dilemmas and may resist doping and moral disengagement, though its impact may vary by component. High consistency of interest may justify doping through moral disengagement due to strong commitment to long-term goals. Perseverance of effort, characterized by persistence despite obstacles, may reduce the likelihood of doping by enhancing resistance to moral disengagement. However, research on grit, moral disengagement, and doping is limited. We therefore examined whether the relationship between components of grit and doping is indirectly related to moral disengagement. This study involved Japanese athletes across various sports. We first translated the Moral Disengagement in Doping Scale (MDDS) into Japanese, confirming its reliability and single-factor structure with 445 participants (α = .87). We then had 561 competitive athletes complete the MDDS, Grit scale and prohibited substance (doping) use experience measures. Results revealed that a higher consistency of interest was associated with increased moral disengagement, which led to a higher possibility of doping. As direct effects, the Grit and its subscales showed significant negative effects on doping. These findings highlight the differential roles of grit components; high consistency of interest may be a risk factor for doping when mediated by moral disengagement, while perseverance of effort may serve as a protective factor.