Understanding Psychosocial and Socio-Cultural Processes Towards Fitness Doping: A Meta-Synthesis Study

Research indicates that the unregulated and excessive utilisation of Performance Enhancing Substances (PES) is also prevalent in physical exercise contexts beyond the domain of competitive sports, thereby raising concerns about the potential for doping to permeate broader society. The objective of this study is to gain insight into and elucidate the psycho-social and socio-cultural context surrounding the utilisation of Performance Enhancing Substances (PES) in physical exercise settings, within the framework of existing literature. In this context, nine qualitative articles were selected based on predetermined exclusion and inclusion criteria from the Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscus databases. Subsequently, the articles were subjected to qualitative data analysis using the Nvivo research statistics programme, and the findings were synthesised. The following themes were identified from the articles examined: “Demographic change”, “gendered resistance”, “hegemonic masculinity”, “appearance”, “encouragement”, “exit point”, “performance”, “self-enhancement”, “social approval”, “the body of man”, “homosexuality”, “limitations” and “transformation”. It is recommended that the use of all substances and methods that may have negative effects on human and public health should be reduced or prevented in these environments with appropriate measures.