RISK-FACTORS FOR ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROID USE IN MEN

The illicit use of anabolic steroids to enhance athletic performance a nd physical appearance can cause numerous psychiatric and other advers e effects. In order to prevent steroid use and its negative consequenc es, knowledge of risk factors is needed. We conducted an anonymous sur vey of 404 male weight lifters from community gymnasiums who completed a 20-min, self-administered questionnaire. The sample for this study included all 35 men who were thinking about using steroids (''high-ris k'' nonusers), 50 randomly selected nonusers who were not thinking abo ut using steroids (''low-risk'' nonusers) and all 49 steroid users. Th e three groups differed in age, training characteristics, other perfor mance-enhancers tried, body image, acquaintance with steroid users, an d perception of negative consequences. When groups were compared along a continuum from low risk to high risk and from high risk to actual u se, we found increasing amounts of competitive bodybuilding, performan ce-enhancers tried, and steroid-using acquaintances. Groups did not di ffer in their use of addictive substances. Nearly three-fourths of the high-risk group felt ''not big enough,'' compared to 21% of the low-r isk group and 38% of the steroid users (p <.001). These data suggest t hat steroids do work to increase satisfaction with body size, and that dissatisfaction with body size may contribute to the risk of using st eroids.