Steroid use for aesthetic body change – Contextual analysis of a pro-steroid forum and the role of anonymity in online forums

View/ open
Author
Burrow, Harley-Earl
Date
2018-05-01Acceptance date
2018-05-01
Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A large body of research has shown a growing interest in recreational use of body image altering drugs, such as androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) and image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDS). Though attention for the abuse of anabolic steroids is normally focused on athletes and professional bodybuilders, the public are more interested in enhancing their body image than ever before. To achieve this, strict diets with similarities to those of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are followed. Furthermore, the use of anabolic steroids is a taboo subject and illegal in most countries, so the public turn to the internet to discuss how to safely use potentially dangerous drugs altering their biochemistry. This study hoped to gain an insight to these discussions through the medium of online steroid discussion forums. A mixed methods design was used in two phases. A survey was distributed online for phase 1 to determine the most popular forums for the discussion of forums. A content analysis was carried out in phase 2 on the most popular forum as identified by phase 1. Biochemistry was the most popular theme with an appearance in 18.1% (N=157) of the thread posts. Following this themes included were; information 15.8% (N=137), Anecdotes 15.1% (N=131), advice 12.6% (N=103) and questions 11.4% (N=99). A main theme of “plausibility” was selected to encompass all themes. Research suggests people choose to follow advice available in online forums due to the plausible nature of the information, and apparent experience people appear to have through sharing complex information in a nonchalant manner.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, subject and abstract.
-
Intratympanic glucocorticosteroid therapy for idiopathic sudden hearing loss: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Lai, Dan; Zhao, Fei; Jalal, Nasim; Zheng, Yun (Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2017-12-01)Background and objective: Glucocorticoids are the standard treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), but whether intratympanic or systemic therapy is superior remains controversial. Previous ... -
Bodybuilding: A Subcultural Analysis
Jones, Lewis (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2014)This ethnographic study attempts to give an insight into subcultures while focusing upon the history, formation and application within the modern day society. Cohen’s (1995) early theory of subculture is supported by ... -
Intrasexual competition as a potential influence on anabolic-androgenic steroid use initiation
Harris, Marc Ashley; Dunn, Michael; Alwyn, Tina (Sage Journals, 2017-02-01)An estimated 293,000 people living in the United Kingdom have used anabolic-androgenic steroids. However, there is currently no intervention to reduce usage available in practice or academic circulation throughout the ...