Attitudes and Behaviors with Regards to Androgenic Anabolic Steroids Among Male Adolescents in a County of Sweden

Abstract

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes towards androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents who have used anabolics compared to those who have not. Design and Setting. A cross-sectional survey was performed in the year 2000 in all secondary schools in the county of Halland on the west coast of Sweden. Participants and Measurements. An anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to all classes with 14-, 16-, and 18-year-old male adolescents. The response rate was 92.7% (n = 4049). Findings. Those who admitted having used androgenic anabolic steroids differed in several ways from those who had not. Fewer believed androgenic anabolic steroids to be harmful [odds ratio (OR) = 0.15, 95% CI 0.08–0.30] and more believed that girls preferred boys with large muscles (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 3.4–11.0). They trained more often at gyms (OR = 5.6, 95% CI 3.0–10.6), drank more alcohol (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.0–9.1), and had used narcotic drugs more often (OR = 15.3, 95% CI 8.5–27.5) than the other male adolescents. More immigrants than native-born adolescents had used anabolics (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.2–7.9). Conclusion. Attitudes towards anabolics differ between users and nonusers. These aspects may be beneficial to focus on as one part of a more complex intervention program in order to change these attitudes and decrease the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids.