Perceptions of Anabolic Steroid Users¹

Abstract

Although anabolic steroid (AS) use has been associated with negative physical and psychological effects, use of AS has continued. Recently, psychosocial factors have been hypothesized to be important in understanding AS use. This study focused on perceptions that three populations (AS‐using athletes, nonusing athletes, and general nonusers) have of AS users. In Experiment 1, 22 AS users (bodybuilders and power‐lifters) read a description of a bodybuilder and rated their perceptions of that athlete. Results indicated that an AS using bodybuilder was rated similarly to a diet‐conscious bodybuilder and significantly more positively than a cocaine‐using bodybuilder. In Experiment 2, 43 nonusing bodybuilders perceived an AS‐using athlete no differently than a nonusing athlete. In Experiment 3, 254 undergraduates rated an AS‐using bodybuilder significantly less positively than a diet‐conscious athlete and a cheater, but no differently than a cocaine user. Implications of the different patterns of ratings made by the three groups of subjects are presented. The utility of considering psychosocial factors when implementing AS prevention programs is discussed.

Examining a negative halo effect to anabolic steroids users through perceived achievement goals, sportspersonship orientations, and aggressive tendencies

“…We also ascertained potential social desirability effects as expressed from identification scores. That is, we anticipated that participants would identify more readily with the athlete who refused AS use on the basis of prior work showing that drug‐use tend to be assimilated to cheating by student observers (Van Raalte et al ., 1993). To this end, identification ratings were examined through a 2 × 2 factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA, Gender [female/male] × Condition [ DU / NDU ]).…”

“…We feel that the present findings, albeit exploratory, inspire a number of valuable perspectives. First, not only do they confirm the negative halo which may burden AS‐users’ social image (see Long, 1991; Van Raalte et al ., 1993, Study 3; for convergent findings), but they also raise interesting questions concerning the mediational processes which could contribute to such negative perceptions. That is, it behoves further research to test if AS use impairs an athlete’s social image because it first leads observers to perceive her/his motivation and moral standards in unfavorable terms.…”

“…In recent years, a few authors have considered it useful to investigate this issue using a different standpoint, namely, that of the observer (e.g., Ginis & Leary, 2004; Long, 1991; Schwerin & Corcoran, 1992, 1996; Van Raalte, Cusimano, Brewer & Matheson, 1993). A worthy question, here, would be to verify if the acceptance of AS use for oneself could lead an athlete to be perceived by others in unfavorable terms.…”

Exploring the social image of anabolic steroids users through motivation, sportspersonship orientations and aggression

“…It is our contention that the present findings raise a number of valuable insights. First, on a theoretical ground, not only do they confirm the negative social perceptions that bear on AS‐using athletes (see Long, 1991; Van Raalte et al, 1993 for similar results) but also, our results help delineate underlying mediational processes that may yield such perceptions. Indeed, the present findings suggest that DU impedes on the social image of an athlete because it first leads observers to perceive an athlete's motivation and moral standards in negative ways.…”

“…Recently, a few commentators (e.g., Long, 1991; Van Raalte et al, 1993) have argued that using an observer perspective to further examine this issue could prove fruitful on a least two grounds. First and foremost, it could help verify whether the linking of drug use to negative psychological consequences is mirrored in the social perceptions of others.…”