Table 6.

Qualitative studies presenting AAS users’ motives/drives for initiating AAS use

Motive/drive	Studies (first author, reference)
Aggression	Klötz [31]; Kusserow [32]; Maycock [34,35]; Mckillop [36]
Appearance/body image	Annitto [19]; Bardick [20]; Bilard [21]; Copeland [23] and Peters [24]; Fudala [25]; Grogan [26]; Gruber [27]; Hegazy [28]; Khorrami [30]; Kimergård [6,8]; Klötz [31]; Kusserow [32]; Malone [33]; Maycock [34,35]; Midgley [37]; Nøkleby [38]; O’Sullivan [39]; Olrich [40]; Pappa [41]; Petrocelli [42]; Pope [44,45]; Rashid [14]; Schwingel [46]; Scull [47]; Skårberg [48-50]; Tallon [11]; Walker [10]
Coach’s/trainer’s approval/influence	Kusserow [32]; Maycock [34,35]
Curiosity	Olrich [40]; Pappa [41]; Skårberg [49]
Family influence	Khorrami [30]; Kusserow [32]; Joubert [7]
Media	Bardick [20]; Grogan [26]; Kusserow [32]; Pappa [41]; Walker [10]
Muscle/strength	Bilard [21]; Copeland [23] and Peters [24]; Cornford [9]; Fudala [25]; Gruber [27]; Hegazy [28]; Joubert [7]; Khorrami [30]; Kimergård [6]; Klötz [31]; Korkia [12,13]; Malone [33]; McKillop [36]; Midgley [37]; Nøkleby [38]; O’Sullivan [39]; Pappa [41]; Petrocelli [42]; Pope [45]; Rashid [14]; Schwingel [46]; Scull [47]; Skårberg [49]; Skårberg [48,50]; Tallon [11]; Walker [10]
Occupational (non-sporting)	Grogan [26]; Kimergård [6]; Maycock [35]; Olrich [40]; Schwingel [46]; Scull [47]
Peer influence	Joubert [7]; Kusserow [32]; Maycock [34,35]; Midgley [37]; Olrich [40]
Personal security	Bardick [20]; Cornford [9]; Gruber [27]; Joubert [7]
Physiological recovery/injury prevention	Bardick [20]; Bilard [21]; Copeland [23] and Peters [24]; Cornford [9]; Hegazy [28]; Korkia [12]; Kusserow [32]; Malone [33]; McKillop [36]; Midgley [37]; Tallon [11]
Psychological (well-being, self-esteem, self-efficacy, concentration, confidence)	Bardick [20]; Bilard [21]; Fudala [25]; Joubert [7]; Klötz [31]; Midgley [37]; Nøkleby [38]; Olrich [40]; Petrocelli [42]; Pope [45]; Rashid [14]; Tallon [11]; Walker [10]
Sexual attraction/attractiveness	Kusserow [32]; Olrich [40]; Petrocelli [42]; Tallon [11]
Sport/social norm	Bilard [21]; Grogan [26]; Klötz [31]; Malone [33]; Olrich [40]; Pappa [41]; Skårberg [49]; Todd [51]; Kimergård [8]
Sports	Bardick [20]; Bilard [21]; Boyadjiev [22]; Copeland [23] and Peters [24]; Fudala [25]; Grogan [26]; Joubert [7]; Katz [29]; Khorrami [30]; Klötz [31]; Korkia [12,13]; Kimergård [6]; Kusserow [32]; Malone [33]; Maycock [34,35]; McKillop [36]; Midgley [37]; Nøkleby [38]; Olrich [40]; Pappa [41]; Pope [43]; Schwingel [46]; Skårberg [48-50]; Todd [51]; Wilson-Fearon [53]
Sports scholarship	Kusserow [32]; Vassalo [52]