Body image and attitudes toward male roles in anabolic-androgenic steroid users.
OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to expand on previous observations suggesting that body-image pathology is associated with illicit use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). In particular, the authors compared current versus past AAS users and short-term versus long-term users in this respect.


METHODS
The authors assessed 89 heterosexual men who lifted weights regularly-48 AAS users and 41 nonusers-on measures of self-esteem, attitudes toward male roles, body image, eating-related attitudes and behaviors, and muscle dysmorphia ("reverse anorexia nervosa").


RESULTS
AAS users as a whole showed few differences from nonusers on most measures but showed greater symptoms of muscle dysmorphia (e.g., not allowing their bodies to be seen in public, giving up pleasurable activities because of body-appearance concerns). The current and past AAS users each differed only modestly from nonusers on most measures. Short-term AAS "experimenters" were also largely indistinguishable from nonusers, but the long-term AAS users showed striking and significant differences from nonusers on many measures, including marked symptoms of muscle dysmorphia and stronger endorsement of conventional male roles.


CONCLUSIONS
Both body-image pathology and narrow stereotypic views of masculinity appear to be prominent among men with long-term AAS use. Although our cross-sectional observations cannot confirm that these factors help to cause or perpetuate AAS use, a causal hypothesis is certainly plausible and deserving of further testing in longitudinal studies. If these factors are indeed causal, then AAS users might respond to cognitive behavior approaches that simultaneously take aim at both types of maladaptive beliefs.
McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA. pope@mclean.harvard.edu
Gen
G
Kanayama
Steven
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Barry
James I
JI
Hudson
Harrison G
HG
Pope
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005783:Gender Identity; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013240:Stereotyping; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000523:psychology
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000728:Androgens; D013287:Illicit Drugs