Sammendrag
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among Norwegian adolescents and to contrast three perspectives on AAS-use: performance enhancement in sports competition; body image and eating concerns; and AAS-use belonging to a cluster of problem behavior. Method: A nationally representative sample of 8,877 Norwegian youths (15-22 years of age) were surveyed (response rate 78%). Sports participation included measures of participation in strength sports, participation in competitive sports, strength training, and perceived athletic competence. Body image and eating concerns included measures of disordered eating, perceived physical appearance, and satisfaction with body parts. Problem behavior was measured by three dimensions of conduct problems (overt destruction, overt non-destruction, and covert behavior), illicit drug use, and sexual involvement. Results: Lifetime AAS use was 0.8% (1.2 % male and .6% female), 12 month prevalence was 0.3%, and 5.1% had been offered AAS. AAS-use did not vary according to sports involvement and demographics. Logistic regression analyses showed that AAS use was associated with problem behavior (cannabis involvement and overt non-destruction, viz. aggressive, conduct problems) and to some extent involvement in power sports and disordered eating. AAS-users differed little from those who had been offered AAS, but who had refrained from using them, except that they were more often current cannabis users. Conclusions: Adolescent AAS-use seems primarily to be another type of problem-behavior and only secondary is it associated with strength sport participation and disordered eating.
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