Faigenbaum A D, Zaichkowsky L D, Gardner D E, Micheli L J
Department of Human Performance and Fitness, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
Pediatrics. 1998 May;101(5):E6. doi: 10.1542/peds.101.5.e6.
The prevalence of anabolic steroid use by high school and college students has been reported in the literature. However, rumors persist regarding the use of steroids by younger populations.
To assess the extent of steroid use by male and female middle school students and to explore their attitudes and perceptions about these drugs. Methods. A confidential self-report questionnaire was administered to 466 male and 499 female students between 9 and 13 years of age (mean +/- SD, 11.4 +/- 0.9 years) in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades from four public middle schools in Massachusetts. The number of students reporting steroid use and differences between users' and nonusers' underlying attitudes and perceptions about these drugs were evaluated.
The response rate was 82% (965/1175 eligible). Results indicated that 2.7% of all middle school students reported using steroids; 2.6% were males and 2.8% were females. When steroid users were compared with nonusers, 47% versus 43% thought that steroids make muscles bigger; 58% versus 31% thought that steroids make muscles stronger; 31% versus 11% thought that steroids improve athletic performance; 23% versus 13% thought that steroids make one look better; 23% versus 9% knew someone their own age who currently took steroids; 38% versus 4% were asked by someone to take steroids; 54% versus 91% thought that steroids were bad for them; and 35% versus 2% indicated that they would take steroids in the future. Additional analyses determined steroid user involvement in sports and activities.
The results of this study suggest that the problem of illicit steroid use extends to children and young adolescents and that a segment of this population is mindful of the potential physiologic effects of steroids. This information will be useful to pediatricians, sport authorities, and school teachers whose guidance will become increasingly more important as steroid educational interventions for male and female middle school students are developed.
文献报道了高中生和大学生使用合成代谢类固醇的情况。然而，关于更年轻人群使用类固醇的传言仍然存在。
评估男女中学生使用类固醇的程度，并探究他们对这些药物的态度和看法。方法。对马萨诸塞州四所公立中学五、六、七年级的466名男生和499名女生（年龄在9至13岁之间，平均±标准差为11.4±0.9岁）进行了一项保密的自我报告问卷调查。评估了报告使用类固醇的学生人数以及使用者和非使用者对这些药物潜在态度和看法的差异。
回复率为82%（965/1175名符合条件者）。结果表明，所有中学生中有2.7%报告使用过类固醇；男生为2.6%，女生为2.8%。将类固醇使用者与非使用者进行比较时，47%对43%的人认为类固醇会使肌肉变大；58%对31%的人认为类固醇会使肌肉更强壮；31%对11%的人认为类固醇能提高运动成绩；23%对13%的人认为类固醇会让人看起来更好；23%对9%的人认识同龄且目前正在使用类固醇的人；38%对4%的人曾被他人要求使用类固醇；54%对91%的人认为类固醇对自己有害；35%对2%的人表示未来会使用类固醇。进一步分析确定了类固醇使用者参与体育和活动的情况。
本研究结果表明，非法使用类固醇的问题已延伸至儿童和青少年，且这部分人群中的一部分人意识到了类固醇的潜在生理影响。随着针对男女中学生的类固醇教育干预措施的制定，这些信息将对儿科医生、体育当局和学校教师有用，他们的指导将变得越来越重要。
