The Motivations of Using Steroids Among the Bodybuilders in Some Arab Countries

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the motivations of using steroids among bodybuilders in some Arab countries. Twenty-three bodybuilders were chosen during the Middle East bodybuilding Competition in Jordan 1999; in addition to the bodybuilders (37) who participated in the coaching assignment in Dubai in the same year. Their age was between 18-25 years old and they were from 9 Arab countries. A 50-item survey designed to identify the motivations after measuring its validity and reliability. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and 3X3 X8 MANOVA. The results have confirmed that the percentage of the motivations of using steroids among bodybuilders was (72, 02%) which is considered high in the scale. And the major motive for using steroids was the social motive followed by international participation, psychological, coach, health, and economic motive, with a percentage ranging between 85,23% to 59, and 27% which considered very high according to the high scale applied. Furthermore, the results showed significant differences among the subject’s motives for education and experience variables. Post-hoc comparisons showed significant differences among the three groups for (international participation and for the high school education). However, no significant differences showed among the subjects motives’ country. The study also supported the concept of steroids, which has been considered to be one of the major problems facing the Olympic Committee and local sport federations. More research is needed to be done.