Recent studies revealed that amateur athletes, especially young ones, have an increasing tendency of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) usage. The aim of this study was to explore PEDs attitudes, beliefs, and practices among young, amateur Croatian athletes. This cross-sectional study using a specially designed questionnaire as a research tool was done during the August 2019 to January 2020 period among a convenient sample of 400 amateur athletes of median age 18 (interquartile range 15 to 21) years. The prevalence of current PEDs usage was 1.3%, while past PEDs usage prevalence was 3.3%. Current PEDs usage was more frequent among young adults (p = 0.048) and athletes playing individual sports (p = 0.001). Athletes who were engaged in sports from one to five years had more permissive attitudes toward PEDs (p < 0.001) as measured by the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale. Female athletes had more positive beliefs about PEDs usage (p = 0.008). The study did not establish any correlation between current or past PEDs usage and attitudes toward PEDs as well as beliefs about PEDs usage. However, there was a weak positive correlation between attitudes toward PEDs and athletes’ beliefs about PEDs usage (r_s = 0.465, p < 0.001). PEDs usage is present among young Croatian amateur athletes. There is a need for interventions directed toward the prevention of PEDs usage in an observed subgroup of athletes.

中文翻译：

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克罗地亚年轻，业余运动员的兴奋剂态度，信念和习惯

最近的研究表明，业余运动员，尤其是年轻运动员，具有使用增强表现药物（PED）的趋势。这项研究的目的是探索年轻的克罗地亚业余运动员中PED的态度，信念和做法。这项横断面研究是在2019年8月至2020年1月期间进行的，采用了专门设计的调查表作为研究工具，对400位中位年龄为18岁（四分位范围为15至21岁）的业余运动员进行了方便的抽样调查。当前PED的使用率为1.3％，而过去PED的使用率为3.3％。当前年轻人中PED的使用率较高（p = 0.048），而参加个人运动的运动员（p= 0.001）。根据绩效增强态度量表的测量，从事一到五年运动的运动员对PED的态度较宽松（p <0.001）。女运动员对PED的使用抱有更积极的信念（p = 0.008）。该研究并未在当前或过去使用PED的方式与对PED的态度以及对PED的使用观念之间建立任何关联。但是，对PED的态度与运动员对PED使用的看法之间存在弱的正相关关系（r _s = 0.465，p <0.001）。在年轻的克罗地亚业余运动员中存在PED的使用。需要针对在所观察的运动员亚组中预防PED使用的干预措施。