Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Behaviour and Preference Changes in Relation to Selected Anabolic Androgenic Substances and Steroids: A Research Study

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) broke out in China. The virus spread rapidly throughout the country and around the globe. In an effort to prevent the spread of the virus, all countries significantly limited social interaction, which also curbed all sports, social, and leisure activities. AIM: The main research objective of this paper was to determine whether there is a statically significant relationship between the potential interest in information retrieval and the subsequent possible change in behaviour and in preferences in relation to selected anabolic androgenic substances and steroids, before and after the global COVID-19 pandemic in the context of biological age, the highest level of education attained, and work status. METHODS: Secondary information sources were accessed via the citation database Web of Science and the Scopus citation and reference database. Selected mathematical-statistical methods were used to analyse the data and interpret the findings. SAMPLE: The method of snowball sampling was used, allowing us to gather a pool of 127 respondents. RESULTS: The results suggest that there could be a statically significant relationship between the change in behaviour and in preferences in relation to selected anabolic androgenic substances and steroids before and after the global COVID-19 pandemic with regard to biological age and work status. It was also determined that the highest level of education attained by the respondents has no effect on this issue. CONCLUSION: The most common reason for the change in behaviour and in preferences associated with selected anabolic androgens and steroids before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was rapid muscle mass growth and an increase in muscle strength. The least intrinsically motivating reason was shortening the regeneration period of the body after a training session. © 2021, Sdruzeni SCAN. All rights reserved.