Age and Gender Specific Variations in Attitudes to Performance Enhancing Drugs and Methods. A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Little is known about age and gender specific attitudes to performance enhancing drugs and methods or other characteristics by which attitudes may vary. Methods: Using a population based cross-sectional sample of 1,703 Danish men and women aged 15-60 years, the present study examined age and gender variation in attitudes to performance enhancing drugs and methods. Response rate was 34 %. Information on attitudes was collected by questionnaire. Results: Overall, participants held negative attitudes to drugs and methods enhancing predominantly cognitive abilities enhancing performance drugs and to appearance modifying methods, but were positive to drugs for restoring physical functioning conditions. However, attitudes varied nonlinearly across age. Lenient attitudes peaked at age around 25 and subsequently decreased. Lenient attitudes to use of drugs against common disorders decreased in a linear fashion. No gender differences were observed and attitude did not vary with level of education, self-reported health or weekly hours of physical activity. Conclusion: The present study expands existing knowledge about attitudes toward PEDM with respect to age and gender specific differences. Future studies should take age variations into account, when examining attitudes to PEDM in the general population.