{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T03:52:26Z","timestamp":1772596346556,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,13]],"date-time":"2024-12-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734048000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Funds","award":["IDB\/50008\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IDB\/50008\/2020"]}]},{"name":"National Funds","award":["UIDB\/05198\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/05198\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>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\u2019 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs14121199","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,16]],"date-time":"2024-12-16T04:14:52Z","timestamp":1734322492000},"page":"1199","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["The Image of Group Fitness Instructors: An Intra- and Inter-Country Comparison Between Portugal and Romania"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4110-2751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Viorel Petru","family":"Ardelean","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"},{"name":"Physical Activities Research Center, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8488-1698","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vlad Adrian","family":"Geant\u0103","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"},{"name":"Physical Activities Research Center, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"},{"name":"Doctoral School of Sport Science and Physical Education, Pite\u0219ti University Center, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 110253 Pite\u0219ti, Romania"}]},{"given":"Corina","family":"Dulceanu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"},{"name":"Physical Activities Research Center, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"}]},{"given":"Claudiu","family":"Bulzan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"},{"name":"Physical Activities Research Center, 2-4, Elena Dragoi, 310330 Arad, Romania"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7074-887X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"S\u00f3nia","family":"Brito-Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Miseric\u00f3rdia, Lagar dos Corti\u00e7os, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"inED Centre for Research & Innovation in Education, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Guilherme Eust\u00e1quio","family":"Furtado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Miseric\u00f3rdia, Lagar dos Corti\u00e7os, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Centre for Natural Resources Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2310-1560","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ricardo","family":"Gomes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Miseric\u00f3rdia, Lagar dos Corti\u00e7os, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, 3040-256 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1812-2300","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernando","family":"Martins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Miseric\u00f3rdia, Lagar dos Corti\u00e7os, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"inED Centre for Research & Innovation in Education, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Instituto de Telecomunica\u00e7\u00f5es, Delega\u00e7\u00e3o da Covilh\u00e3, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1990-0589","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco","family":"Campos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Higher Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Miseric\u00f3rdia, Lagar dos Corti\u00e7os, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Instituto de Telecomunica\u00e7\u00f5es, Delega\u00e7\u00e3o da Covilh\u00e3, 6201-001 Covilh\u00e3, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1299","DOI":"10.47197\/retos.v51.101662","article-title":"Physical fitness: Effects of active lifestyle internalization through physical literacy awareness-based project","volume":"51","author":"Mashud","year":"2024","journal-title":"Retos"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"6600","article-title":"Personal trainer demographics, current practice trends and common trainee injuries","volume":"8","author":"Waryasz","year":"2016","journal-title":"Orthop. 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