| Yazarlar (1) |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Eda YILMAZER
Beykoz Üniversitesi, Türkiye |
| Özet |
| Background Performance-enhancing drug (PED) use has become increasingly prevalent among adolescents and emerging adults, not solely for athletic advantage but as a psychological and sociocultural coping mechanism. In Türkiye, where Westernized body ideals intersect with traditional values, the emotional and symbolic meanings of PED use among youth remain underexplored. Methods This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis to examine the subjective experiences of 26 Turkish adolescents and emerging adults (19 males, 7 females; ages 16–22) in Istanbul who reported non-medical use of steroids or other PEDs. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling in gym-adjacent communities across six urban districts. Interviews were conducted online, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify emergent psychological themes. Results Six interconnected themes were identified: (1) body-based insecurity and the fantasy of reinvention; (2) emotional regulation through bodily control; (3) secrecy as autonomy; (4) compulsive enhancement and dissatisfaction; (5) psychological dependency and regret; and (6) PED use as agency and protest. While male and female participants differed in aesthetic goals and social narratives, both groups framed PED use as a means of identity construction, emotional survival, and social validation. Participants did not perceive themselves as deviant but as strategic actors navigating a performance-driven culture. Conclusions PED use among youth in urban Türkiye emerges as a psychologically embedded coping mechanism rooted in emotional … |
| Anahtar Kelimeler |
| Makale Türü | Özgün Makale |
| Makale Alt Türü | SSCI, AHCI, SCI, SCI-Exp dergilerinde yayınlanan tam makale |
| Dergi Adı | Adolescents |
| Dergi ISSN | adol-esce |
| Dergi Tarandığı Indeksler | SSCI |
| Makale Dili | Türkçe |
| Basım Tarihi | 01-2025 |
| Makale Linki | https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/review_info/24dc7e9a353118be1485857884ccd3b0 |
