Ardelean Viorel Petru, Geantă Vlad Adrian, Dulceanu Corina, Bulzan Claudiu, Brito-Costa Sónia, Furtado Guilherme Eustáquio, Gomes Ricardo, Martins Fernando, Campos Francisco
Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania.
Physical Activities Research Center, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Dec 13;14(12):1199. doi: 10.3390/bs14121199.
Fitness instructors play an essential role in fitness services, as they require both technical and interpersonal skills. A good image of a fitness instructor can be defined as having a pleasant appearance and good presentation in terms of hygiene and/or clothing used, which is appropriate for the context and characteristics of the participants. Their image significantly influences participants' perceptions and satisfaction. The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis between Romania and Portugal regarding the quality of services offered within group fitness classes, focusing on instructors. It involved 133 group fitness instructors and 210 participants from Romania and Portugal. An adaptation of the Szumilewicz questionnaire was used to assess the importance of the different attributes of the fitness instructor's image. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and effect size to compare perceptions between countries and groups. Romanian instructors and participants generally attributed more importance to the fitness instructor's image compared to their Portuguese counterparts. Significant differences were found in attributes like physical fitness, technical execution, and communication. Instructors tended to overestimate the importance of their image compared to participants. The fitness instructor's image is crucial in determining participant satisfaction and the perceptions of service quality. The innovative aspect of this study lies in its intercultural comparison, which highlights how cultural context influences the perception of a fitness instructor's attributes, such as physical fitness, technical execution, and communication. The practical application of these findings lies in the suggestion that fitness professionals should tailor their approach, balancing technical skills and interpersonal communication to align with the cultural expectations of their participants. This culturally sensitive approach is essential for enhancing participant satisfaction and improving the overall quality of fitness services.
健身教练在健身服务中发挥着至关重要的作用，因为他们需要具备技术和人际沟通技能。健身教练的良好形象可以定义为在卫生和/或所穿衣物方面具有宜人的外表和良好的展示，这与参与者的背景和特点相适应。他们的形象会显著影响参与者的认知和满意度。本研究的目的是对罗马尼亚和葡萄牙在团体健身课程中提供的服务质量进行比较分析，重点关注教练。该研究涉及来自罗马尼亚和葡萄牙的133名团体健身教练和210名参与者。使用了经过改编的苏米莱维茨问卷来评估健身教练形象不同属性的重要性。统计分析包括描述性统计、t检验和效应量，以比较不同国家和群体之间的认知。与葡萄牙同行相比，罗马尼亚的教练和参与者通常更重视健身教练的形象。在身体素质、技术执行和沟通等属性方面发现了显著差异。与参与者相比，教练往往高估了自己形象的重要性。健身教练的形象对于确定参与者的满意度和服务质量认知至关重要。本研究的创新之处在于其跨文化比较，突出了文化背景如何影响对健身教练属性的认知，如身体素质、技术执行和沟通。这些研究结果的实际应用在于建议健身专业人员应调整他们的方法，平衡技术技能和人际沟通，以符合参与者的文化期望。这种文化敏感的方法对于提高参与者的满意度和改善健身服务的整体质量至关重要。
