Anabolic-androgenic steroid effect expectancies and use patterns of weight training men

Abstract

This is the first study to examine the factor structure of expectancies associated with the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Self-reports from 503 adult male weight lifters (388 nonusers and 115 users) were examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to develop the Analolic- Androgenic Steroid Effect Expectancy Questionnaire. Three factors were identified that accounted for 40.8% of vari.ance in the item set: Global Positive Effects; Aggression/Negative Psychological Effects; and Negative Physical Side Effects. Nonusers held lower expectancies of Global Positive Effects and higher expectancies of Aggression/Negative Psychological Effects than did experimental and recreational users of anabolic-androgenic steroids, and held higher expectancies of Negative Physical Side Effects than did experimental users. No significant differences were found on the scales between experimental and recreational users. These findings support the applicability of expectancy theory to anabolic-androgenic steroid use and provide examination of the range of weight training men's expectations regarding the effects of these drugs.