Exercise Addiction and Satisfaction of Fitness Center Users as Precursors to the Intention of Continuing to Engage in Physical Activity

Antonio Fernández-Martínez, Víctor Murillo-Lorente, Alberto Sarmiento, Javier Álvarez-Medina and Alberto Nuviala
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Antonio Fernández-Martínez: Department of Sports and Computer Science, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Seville, Spain
Víctor Murillo-Lorente: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 22003 Huesca, Spain
Alberto Sarmiento: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 22003 Huesca, Spain
Javier Álvarez-Medina: Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 22003 Huesca, Spain
Alberto Nuviala: Department of Sports and Computer Science, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Seville, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Exercise addiction occurs when a person engages in excessive physical activity until they lose control. Among individuals attending fitness centers, the risk of developing exercise addiction has been estimated to be close to 10%. The objective of this study was to determine whether exercise addiction may be an antecedent of satisfaction with the service received and/or of the intention of continuing to partake in leisure-time physical activity at fitness centers in a direct or indirect manner. A total of 361 individuals (29.05 ± 11.40 years old) who were physically active at Spanish fitness centers were asked to respond to a questionnaire on exercise addiction, satisfaction with the sports service, and their intention to continue to engage in physical activity. A multi-group analysis was conducted to check for differences in relationships by sex. The results show the relationships between addiction, satisfaction, and intention to continue physical activity. The standardized values display differences between men and women, with women exhibiting the highest values for the relationships between addiction and the rest of the constructs. Satisfaction with the sports service is a mediator in the relationship between exercise addiction and intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity.

Keywords: exercise addiction; fitness; sports services; satisfaction; future intentions; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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