Comparing Motivations for Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Among an International Sample of Men

Introduction: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are used for medical and non-medical purposes. Although the motivations underpinning AAS consumption among men have been explored, less is understood about age-related differences. This research compares AAS use motivations between men aged <40 and ≥40 years. Method: Data were drawn from the 2024 Global Drug Survey (GDS2024), an international, self-selected online convenience sample, comprising 1,146 men who reported AAS use within the past 12 months. Participants were categorized into two age groups (under 40 years and 40 years or older). Chi-square analyses were performed to compare the motivations for using AAS between these groups. Results: Predominant motivations for AAS use included enhancing athletic/physical performance (18.9%), improving body appearance/cosmetic reasons (18.3%), and hormone replacement therapy (16.9%). The only motivation that differed significantly by age group was the desire to retain or regain a youthful appearance, which was more commonly reported by older AAS consumers (χ2 (1) = 15.78, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Motivations for AAS use are largely similar across age groups, with youthful appearance emerging as the key differentiating motive among older men. Future research should consider age-specific harm reduction strategies.