This study investigated social cognitive determinants of creatine supplementation among 171 male, undergraduate, recreational weight-lifters. Participants responded to a packet of questionnaires that assessed their history and rate of creatine use, self-efficacy for improving their workout performance with and without creatine, and expected outcomes of improved workout performance and creatine use, as well as several other demographic variables.

Fifty percent of the sample reported past creatine use. The data was used to establish the internal consistency, test-retest reliability and predictive validity of factor-based scales for valued outcome expectancies and disincentives for creatine use scales. A social cognitive model was shown to predict past creatine use (R² = .372). The results lay the groundwork for further examination of the determinants of creatine supplementation and the use of other controversial and potentially harmful performance-enhancing dietary supplements.