title: Experiences of anabolic steroid use: in-depth interviews with men and women body builders.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate anabolic steroid users' experiences of, and motivations for, use. Five men and six women users took part in in-depth interviews. Four themes emerged: Steroid Use vs Abuse; Side-effects; Trusted Information Sources; and Social Pressure. Many users believed that steroids used in moderation were safe. Serious side-effects (liver and kidney damage, hypertension) were not significant disincentives. Information from health professionals tended to be mistrusted because it was not based on first-hand experience of use. Social support, especially from within the body building community, was an important motivator. It is concluded that intervention programmes need the support of the body building community in order to be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent, UK. s.c.grogan@staffs.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D013008:Somatotypes; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents