Substance use and misuse among professional ballet dancers

Subst Use Misuse. 2010 Jul;45(9):1420-30. doi: 10.3109/10826081003682198.

Abstract

This study investigated substance use and misuse among 16 female and 9 male Croatian ballet professionals in 2008 using an original questionnaire. We analyzed social, personal, activity- and training-related, and educational factors, and criteria such as: binge alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, appetite suppressant consumption, analgesic use, and actual and potential "doping" habits. Frequency tables and rank-order correlation were calculated. More than one third of the male dancers reported binge drinking, while 20% of the females smoked more than a box of cigarettes per day. Almost 25% of these dancers will use "doping" if it will ensure successful ballet performance, regardless of negative health consequences. In males, the risk of potential "doping" behavior increased with age. In females, education level was negatively related to cigarette smoking, but positively correlated to potential "doping" habits and behavior. In both genders, religiousness was the factor negatively related to the following: (1) potential "doping" behavior and (2) belief that "doping" exists in professional ballet. Results suggest that there is evident need for more specific medical and/or psychological services in professional ballet. The study's limitations are noted.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology*
  • Alcoholism / psychology
  • Analgesics*
  • Appetite Depressants*
  • Croatia
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dancing / psychology
  • Dancing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Doping in Sports / psychology
  • Doping in Sports / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs*
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Sex Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Appetite Depressants
  • Illicit Drugs