Fitness trainers’ use of need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviors: the role of gender, fitness activity, and professional experience

Abstract

Objective: The assessment of interventions designed to improve communication skills of trainers has become an interesting research focus among the scholar community. Yet, literature is scarce on how trainer characteristics could influence behaviors expressed by fitness trainers when interacting with gym members. The present research aimed to examine the role of gender, fitness activity, and work experience of fitness trainers use of need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviors. Method: In total, 468 trainers (female = 213; male = 255) aged between 19 and 46 years (M = 29.20; SD = 4.39) were recruited for the present study. Results: The measurement model provided acceptable fit in each group under analysis. Additionally, the multigroup analysis revealed invariance between gender, fitness activities, and working experience. Conclusion: Regarding the measurement of need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviors, the measure under analysis can be applied reliably to fitness trainers with different characteristics.