The Prediction Factors of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use among Bodybuilders: Application of Prototype Willingness Model

Abstract

Background: One of the types of doping commonly used by bodybuilders is androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS).The use of AAS in addition to violating sporting ethics, has serious consequences on physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to determining the most important factors of AAS use among bodybuilders using prototype willingness model (PWM).Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 280 male bodybuilders were selected using multistage sampling from the bodybuilding clubs in Hamadan city in 2016.A self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic information and constructs of the PWM was used to collect data and random forest model was used to analyses the gathered data.Results: behavioral willingness, Attitude, previous AAS use were the most important factors in determining the behavioral intention. Subjective norms, attitude, BMI and prototypes were the factors that have the greatest impact on predicting of behavioral willingness of AAS use. Also behavioral intention was more important rather than behavioral willingness for predicting of AAS use.Discussion: The results based on PWM and random forest showed that the reasoned action path has a greater impact than social reaction path to predict AAS use among bodybuilders.

Early Maladaptive Schemas, Cognitive Fusion, and Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Muscle Dysmorphia in Iran

“…Prototype Willingness Model Questionnaire contains 26 questions and six subscales: (a) positive attitude toward AAS use, (b) subjective norms, (c) prototype of use, (d) behavioral intention to use AAS, (e) behavioral tendency to use AAS, and (f) behavior of using AAS. Manoochehri et al (2021) conducted a preliminary study on 32 athletes in Iran to investigate the reliability and validity of this questionnaire and reported a reliability coefficient of 0.70-0.90 using Cronbach's alpha method. The total score of this questionnaire is such that a higher score indicates a tendency to use anabolic steroids.…”