Do steroid users act more aggressive?
Personality profile of men using anabolic androgenic steroids.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Past users (who stopped ≥6 months ago) showed personality scores similar to never-users, suggesting the aggressive traits may not be permanent.
Many assume steroid-induced aggression is long-lasting or permanent; this implies the brain may recover after stopping — contradicting common fear-based narratives.
Practical Takeaways
If you're considering steroids, be aware that current use is linked to measurable increases in aggression and impulsivity — which could impact your relationships and mental health.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Past users (who stopped ≥6 months ago) showed personality scores similar to never-users, suggesting the aggressive traits may not be permanent.
Many assume steroid-induced aggression is long-lasting or permanent; this implies the brain may recover after stopping — contradicting common fear-based narratives.
Practical Takeaways
If you're considering steroids, be aware that current use is linked to measurable increases in aggression and impulsivity — which could impact your relationships and mental health.
Publication
Journal
Hormones and behavior
Year
1996
Authors
Niklas Galligani, Annika Renck, S. Hansen
Related Content
Claims (3)
People who currently use steroid drugs to build muscle and are into strength sports tend to score higher on traits like aggression and impulsivity than regular people who don’t use steroids.
Strength athletes who use anabolic steroids tend to score higher on measures of anger, impulsiveness, and muscle tension, and lower on how much they try to seem nice or socially acceptable, compared to athletes who’ve never used steroids or stopped using them for at least six months.
People who use steroid drugs to get stronger tend to become more aggressive, and this matches what other studies have found before.