Table 6 Qualitative studies presenting AAS users’ motives/drives for initiating AAS use

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]