Identifying a typology of men who use anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS)

Despite recognition that the Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS) using population is diverse, empirical studies to develop theories to conceptualise this variance in use have been limited. In this study, using cluster analysis and multinomial logistic regression, we identify typologies of people who u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of drug policy 2018-05, Vol.55, p.105-112
Main Authors: Zahnow, Renee, McVeigh, Jim, Bates, Geoff, Hope, Vivian, Kean, Joseph, Campbell, John, Smith, Josie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anabolic Agents - administration & dosage
Anabolic steroids
Androgenic steroids
Androgens
Asteroids
Athletes
Body fat
Bodybuilding
Cluster Analysis
Dietary supplements
Drug policy
Drug Users - psychology
Drugs
Harm minimisation
Health services
Health Surveys
Humans
Ideal types
Image and performance enhancing drugs
Logistic Models
Male
Men
Motivation
Profiles
Risk
Risk behavior
Risk factors
Risk-Taking
Self Medication - psychology
Steroids
Typology
Well being
Young Adult
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Summary:Despite recognition that the Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS) using population is diverse, empirical studies to develop theories to conceptualise this variance in use have been limited. In this study, using cluster analysis and multinomial logistic regression, we identify typologies of people who use AAS and examine variations in motivations for AAS use across types in a sample of 611 men who use AAS. The cluster analysis identified four groups in the data with different risk profiles. These groups largely reflect the ideal types of people who use AAS proposed by Christiansen et al. (2016): Cluster 1 (You Only Live Once (YOLO) type, n = 68, 11.1%) were younger and motivated by fat loss; Cluster 2 (Well-being type, n = 236, 38.6%) were concerned with getting fit; Cluster 3 (Athlete type, n = 155, 25.4%) were motivated by muscle and strength gains; Cluster 4 (Expert type, n = 152, 24.9%) were focused on specific goals (i.e. not ‘getting fit’). The results of this study demonstrate the need to make information about AAS accessible to the general population and to inform health service providers about variations in motivations and associated risk behaviours. Attention should also be given to ensuring existing harm minimisation services are equipped to disseminate information about safe intra-muscular injecting and ensuring needle disposal sites are accessible to the different types.
ISSN:0955-3959
1873-4758
DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.022