| Consumer use of performance enhancing substances (PES) is a multi-billion dollar industry, fueling public health concerns regarding use in adolescents hoping to enhance athletic performance, body appearance, or fight obesity. PES may also be used for military, sexual, and intellectual performance enhancement; consumption can be viewed as a healthy fitness endeavor. Healthcare providers tend to be less familiar with PES than other forms of substance abuse. PES adverse effects can include violent behavior, suicide attempts, and premature death. Prevalence of use can be difficult to ascertain due to secrecy issues and misinterpretation of survey questions.;A correlational secondary analysis of 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (n = 14,041) was conducted to better understand predictors of PES use. Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory served as the organizing framework guiding the analysis. The study aim was to describe the influence of personal, environmental, and behavioral factors on adolescent PES use (e.g., steroids; methamphetamines; diet pills, powders, liquids).;SPSS version 17.0 Complex Samples Module was used to examine relationships among variables from the complex national sample. The population of interest was adolescent PES users. Variables were analyzed for bivariate associations, by hypothesis and gender, and reported as unadjusted odds ratios. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant risk factors for each type of PES Risk factors were organized into personal, environmental, behavioral factors, then sequentially analyzed. PES use was analyzed by geographic region using Federal Information Processing System codes.;Feeling sad or hopeless, considering suicide, perceiving being overweight, being offered, sold, or given illegal drugs at school, geographic location, being sexually active, cigarette smoking, and alcohol use were significantly associated (p < .05) with PES use in females. Adolescents reported high rates of being offered, sold, or given illegal drugs at school, while the highest rates of PES use were reported in the South U.S.A.;Behaviors contributing to leading causes of adolescent morbidity and mortality are interwoven, persist into adulthood, and may be avoidable. Study findings have implications for health professionals and policy makers who must adequately assess and address physical, psychological, and social issues related to adolescent PES use. |
