Short answer

When designing health-related interventions or products for specific user groups, consider their psychological perceptions of risk and the social context of their behavior.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Harm Reduction Journal (2023)
Method: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
Sample: 21 participants (7 males using AAS, 7 females using AAS, and 7 individuals who coached or competed with female strength athletes using AAS).
Evidence: Moderate effect

Women athletes using anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) tend to favor oral compounds due to a perceived lower risk of developing pronounced masculinizing side effects compared to injectable forms. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Harm Reduction Journal. Using Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. with 21 participants (7 males using AAS, 7 females using AAS, and 7 individuals who coached or competed with female strength athletes using AAS)., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing health-related interventions or products for specific user groups, consider their psychological perceptions of risk and the social context of their behavior.

Study

Human FactorsRecentModerate effect

Oral Anabolic Steroids Offer Women Athletes a Perceived Lower Risk of Masculinization

Women athletes using anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) tend to favor oral compounds due to a perceived lower risk of developing pronounced masculinizing side effects compared to injectable forms.

Harm Reduction Journal · 2023

Key Findings

01Women predominantly choose oral AAS compounds (e.g., Oxandrolone) and other performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) like Clenbuterol.
02The use of injectable AAS by women is perceived as a significant shift, often associated with drastic physical and psychological changes.
03Women using AAS experience significant isolation and stigma, with a lack of evidence-based information and education available to them.

Application

Design takeaway

When designing health-related interventions or products for specific user groups, consider their psychological perceptions of risk and the social context of their behavior.

How to apply

When developing educational content or product information for athletes, consider how different forms or delivery methods of substances are perceived in terms of side effects and risks, particularly for different genders.

Project actions

01When researching user behavior, consider how physical and psychological factors influence choices.
02Investigate the social and environmental factors that shape user decisions.

Method & Evidence

AimTo explore the gendered perspectives and practices surrounding anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) usage among athletes, with a focus on the unique challenges and choices faced by women.

MethodQualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

ProcedureParticipants were interviewed about their experiences and perspectives on AAS use, focusing on gender-specific differences, challenges, and substance selection.

Sample21 participants (7 males using AAS, 7 females using AAS, and 7 individuals who coached or competed with female strength athletes using AAS).

ContextSports performance and image-enhancing drug use, specifically anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS).

Variables

IVGender of athlete, type of AAS used (oral vs. injectable).

DVPerceived risk of masculinization, choice of AAS compound, reported psychological and physical changes.

CVCoaching/competition experience with female strength athletes.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a under-researched area of gender-specific AAS use.
+Explores user perspectives and lived experiences.

Limitations

The findings are specific to a particular group of athletes and may not apply to all individuals using performance-enhancing substances.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of the study provides rich insights but may have limited generalizability. The findings are based on self-reported data, which can be subject to bias. The small sample size also impacts statistical reliability.

Think critically

How might the design of educational materials or support systems be adapted to mitigate the isolation and stigma experienced by women using performance-enhancing substances?

Design Principles

"User choices are influenced by perceived physiological and psychological risks, as well as social factors."

Understanding the specific choices and motivations behind substance use in athletes is crucial for developing targeted harm reduction strategies and educational materials. This insight highlights how physiological and psychological factors influence product selection, even within a high-risk context.

What This Means for Your Design

Girls who use steroids to get stronger often pick pills over shots because they think pills won't make them look as 'manly'. They also feel alone and don't have good information.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing how user perceptions of risk and side effects influence product selection in your design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research indicates that women athletes using anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) often prefer oral compounds over injectables due to a perceived lower risk of developing pronounced masculinizing side effects. This preference is compounded by significant social stigma and a lack of accessible, evidence-based information, highlighting the need for gender-specific harm reduction strategies and education in design practice.

Source

Harm Reduction Journal

Gendered perspectives on women’s anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) usage practices

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about oral anabolic steroids offer women athletes a perceived lower risk of masculinization?: When designing health-related interventions or products for specific user groups, consider their psychological perceptions of risk and the social context of their behavior. Evidence: Harm Reduction Journal (2023).
Why does "Oral Anabolic Steroids Offer Women Athletes a Perceived Lower Risk of Masculinization" matter for design?: Understanding the specific choices and motivations behind substance use in athletes is crucial for developing targeted harm reduction strategies and educational materials. This insight highlights how physiological and psychological factors influence product selection, even within a high-risk context.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing health-related interventions or products for specific user groups, consider their psychological perceptions of risk and the social context of their behavior.
What were the main findings?: Women predominantly choose oral AAS compounds (e.g., Oxandrolone) and other performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) like Clenbuterol.. The use of injectable AAS by women is perceived as a significant shift, often associated with drastic physical and psychological changes.. Women using AAS experience significant isolation and stigma, with a lack of evidence-based information and education available to them.
What research method was used?: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. with 21 participants (7 males using AAS, 7 females using AAS, and 7 individuals who coached or competed with female strength athletes using AAS)..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Harm Reduction Journal.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When developing educational content or product information for athletes, consider how different forms or delivery methods of substances are perceived in terms of side effects and risks, particularly for different genders.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on a specific population in Australia and may not be generalizable to all athlete populations. The sample size is relatively small.