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

BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.