Comparison of Behavioral Activation-Inhibition Systems and Sense of Coherence in Bodybuilders with and Without Use of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are one of the powerful drugs that cause long-term hormonal and psychological changes that can have a wide range of side effects for the athletes.

The purpose of this study was to compare the Behavioral Activation-Inhibition Systems and Sense of Coherence in Bodybuilders with and without Use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids.

The method of this research is descriptive - comparative. The statistical population consisted of all bodybuilders with and without taking anabolic-androgenic steroids in Rasht in 2019, of which 140 individuals (70 natural bodybuilders and 70 steroids bodybuilders) were selected purposefully and included questionnaires of Carver & White (1994) behavioral activation-inhibition systems and sense of coherence Antonovsky (1993) responded by the participants. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance by SPSS 24.

The findings of the present study showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the activation/inhibition system and the sense of coherence (P<0.01). Compared with natural bodybuilders, steroid bodybuilders had less behavioral inhibition (15.95) and sense of coherence (18.87) and more behavioral activation systems (37.77).

According to the results, we suggest that bodybuilders who have used steroids derivatives have many irreversible problems in their cognitive and physical functions. Therefore, coaches need to pay more attention to the psychological problems of the athletes and examine them before competitions.