The main objective of this study was to gather information from South African teenagers as to the prevalence of, and motivation for, the use of mass building supplements. In addition to gathering information pertaining to the frequency of use, the favoured brand of supplement and the type of supplements used by teenagers; the study also focused on attempting to identify an ‘at risk’ age for the commencement of supplement use. The motivation for the use of mass building supplements was integral in the formulation of the hypothesis; that body dissatisfaction was the primary motivation more than increased sporting prowess for the use of supplements.
Gathering of quantitative data took the form of a structured questionnaire comprising three distinct sections. The first section gathered demographic information on age, grade, race and sporting involvement. The second section focused attention on body image questions and contained three components. In the first component the respondents were asked to rate their level of ‘body satisfaction’ using a Likert-type scale for various aspects of their physique. The second component focused on their ‘thoughts’ about their body and the last component focused on the level of ‘appearance importance’ of the respondents. This section of the questionnaire utilized analysis tables generated originally by Thomas F Cash. The third section focused on gathering information in relation to the level, frequency and descriptions of mass building supplement use among the respondents.
The questionnaire was administered to Grade 8 – 12 learners (aged 12-19years old) of a Boys’ School in Pretoria, South Africa. The sample group was randomly selected and yielded 176 completed or partially completed questionnaires. Data was entered into the Moon Stats statistical programme for analysis; affording the opportunity to generate univariate and bivariate statistics along with calculations of Pearson’s product-moment correlations.
Table of Contents
1 Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 the research topic
1.2 the research problem
1.3 aim and objectives of the research
1.4 definitions of some terms and concepts
2 Chapter 2: Literature review / theoretical framework
2.1 historical perspective on steroid and supplement development
2.2 supplements
2.2.1 products – form, brands, availability
2.2.2 potential dangers of supplement use for teenagers
2.3 motivational components of supplement use
2.3.1 sport
2.3.2 body dissatisfaction
2.4 Body Dysmorphic Disorder
2.5 Muscle Dysmorphia
3 Chapter 3: Research design and methodology
3.1 sampling procedure (size and characteristics of sample group)
3.2 measuring instrument (questionnaire development)
3.3 procedure followed to gather data
3.4 technique for data analysis
3.5 sources of error
4 Chapter 4: Presentation of results and discussion
4.1 results of research
4.2 discussion of findings
5 Chapter 5: Conclusions and recommendations
5.1 conclusions and evaluation of hypothesis
5.2 recommendations for further study
6 List of references
7 Appendices
7.1 Appendix A – List of OTC Mass Building Supplement Brands in South Africa.
7.2 Appendix B – Commonly Used Mass Building Supplements and their Adverse Effects.
7.3 Appendix C – Questionnaire Administrator Instructions
7.4 Appendix D – Questionnaire
7.5 Appendix E – Code Sheet for questionnaire
7.6 Appendix F – Raw Data
Research Objectives and Topics
The primary aim of this research is to investigate the prevalence of mass building supplement use among teenage males in a South African school setting, while examining the motivational factors behind their consumption and potential links to body image concerns.
- Prevalence and common types of mass building supplements among teenagers
- Motivational drivers: body dissatisfaction versus desire for improved sporting performance
- Identification of "at-risk" age groups regarding supplement use
- The relationship between body image perception and supplement consumption
- Potential connections between over-the-counter supplement use and the progression to anabolic steroids
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 The Research Topic
The topic of this research is grounded in two fundamental ideas; firstly that teenage males have a desire to look more toned and muscular than they are (Andersen et al.: 2000) and secondly that studies suggest that approximately half of all anabolic steroid abusers are teenagers (Fitzhugh: 2003). The suggestion by Pope et al. (2000), that over-the-counter (OTC) supplements act as „gateways“ to the use of anabolic steroids implies that it is likely that the teenage steroid users began with supplements.
Discussions on OTC supplements have, in the past, been overshadowed by focus on steroid use among both adult and teenage males. In Kanayama et al. (2009) it is suggested that the progression from supplement use to steroid use may be grounded in body image disorders. As such it is of relevance to prioritize the view of teenage males of their bodies in the development of this research.
The prevalence of use of mass building supplements is poorly covered in literature, particularly with reference to teenage males. If the suggestion of Pope et al. is accurate, it would make more sense to be focusing our attention on the teenagers“ use of mass building supplements at school level to intervene and prevent the progression to steroid use.
The motivation for supplement use, according to Fitzhugh (2003) is primarily to change the physical appearance rather than improve sporting prowess. This is supported by Morgan (2008) who purports hat society has gradually made the ideal male physique into a “testosterone-driven mesomorphic (triangular) look” (p101).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: Outlines the research topic and the identified problem concerning supplement usage among teenagers, establishing the study's aim and objectives.
Chapter 2: Literature review / theoretical framework: Provides a historical perspective on steroids and supplements while reviewing motivational factors and psychological conditions like Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Chapter 3: Research design and methodology: Details the sampling procedures, questionnaire development, and the statistical techniques used for data analysis.
Chapter 4: Presentation of results and discussion: Reports the findings from the administered questionnaires and discusses the implications concerning supplement prevalence and motivation.
Chapter 5: Conclusions and recommendations: Synthesizes the research findings, evaluates the study's hypothesis, and suggests areas for future research.
Keywords
Mass building supplements, teenage males, body dissatisfaction, body image, anabolic steroids, sport performance, physical appearance, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Muscle Dysmorphia, prevalence, South Africa, questionnaire, motivation, supplement safety, adolescent health
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This research examines the prevalence of over-the-counter mass building supplement use among teenage boys and identifies what motivates them to use these substances.
What are the central themes explored in this study?
The central themes include adolescent body image, the psychological drivers behind supplement use, the potential for these products to act as a gateway to steroid use, and physical performance versus appearance concerns.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The main objective is to identify if a correlation exists between the use of mass building supplements and either poor body image (dissatisfaction) or the desire for improved athletic performance.
Which scientific methodology was utilized?
The study employed a quantitative research design, utilizing a structured, self-administered questionnaire distributed to students in Grades 8 through 12, followed by statistical analysis using the Moon Stats programme.
What is the focus of the main body of the work?
The main body reviews existing literature on body dysmorphia and supplement history, details the methodology, presents results through various figures and cross-tabulations, and discusses the findings in relation to current trends.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include mass building supplements, teenage males, body dissatisfaction, muscle dysmorphia, and anabolic steroids.
Did the study identify an "at-risk" age group?
Yes, the study identified the Grade 10 age group as a potential "at-risk" segment due to higher levels of body dissatisfaction and appearance importance.
What relationship did the study find between body image and supplement use?
The statistical calculations indicated a very weak correlation between body image perception and the frequency of supplement use, suggesting the hypothesis was not fully supported by the collected data.
What specific supplements were mentioned in the research?
The research discusses various products, specifically protein shakes, creatine, ephedrine, DHEA, androstenedione, and mentions concerns regarding steroid and human growth hormone usage.
- Quote paper
- Gary Elliott (Author), 2010, The prevalence of, and motivation for, mass building supplement use among teenage males, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/178673
