Unmasking Distorted Reflections: Exploring Body Image, Alcohol, and Drug Use in Nighttime Entertainment Districts

Abstract

Background: Violence within nighttime entertainment districts (NEDs) has been blamed on problematic masculinity and has predominantly been attributed to excessive alcohol intake and steroid use in men. In this report we conducted two studies to: (1) ascertain whether researchers could act as third-party raters of body weight and muscle mass in NED patrons; and (2) to examine the relationship between body self-image, inebriation, alcohol preloading behaviors and drug use in the NEDs. Methods: Study 1 employed an observational approach to establish inter-rater reliability for ratings of muscle mass and weight. In Study 2 data (n = 2,745) were collected through breathalyzing and questionnaires to examine individuals’ self-image and drinking and drug-taking behaviors. Results: Participants’ self-ratings of muscle and weight significantly differed from researchers’ ratings, with males perceiving themselves as less muscular and females perceiving themselves as heavier. Perceived weight and muscle size did not relate to alcohol levels, but an interaction was found for female steroid users who perceived themselves as less muscular. Conclusions: Findings indicated a distortion in participants’ perceived body image, with a desire for muscularity among both males and females. These results underscore the complex interplay between self-perception, societal ideals, and drug use in young NED patrons.

Keywords:

• Alcohol use
• gender differences
• hyper masculinity & femininity
• preloading
• steroids

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Katy Brown and Inspector Corey Allen for their help in procuring the data.

Disclosure statement

None. In particular, we have not received any funding during this research from local or state governments, political organizations, lobby groups, temperance societies and health based registered charities, or companies involved in the supply or sale of alcohol.

The lead author affirms that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned have been explained.

Ethics statement

Approved by Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee 2015/704.

Data availability statement

All data will be made available to other researchers.

Additional information

Funding

$39,800 National Drug Strategy Law Enforcement Funding Committee (Last Drinks Project). Alcolizer Technology provided consumables for testing and calibrated the breathalyzers.