The study aimed to understand and examine the factors influencing individuals' participation in group fitness classes at sports centers in the West Bank - Palestine, as well as the differences in these factors according to intermediary variables (gender, age group, educational qualification, and commitment to participation). To achieve this, the researchers used the descriptive-analytical method and a questionnaire designed by the researchers. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 23 items distributed over four axes: personal factors, cultural factors, social factors, and motivational factors. Data was collected from a random sample of 161 participants who attended the sports centers.

The study results showed that the impact of factors on individuals' participation in group fitness classes was very significant across all axes and the overall score, with an arithmetic mean of 4.27. Personal factors ranked first with a mean of 4.46, followed by motivational factors in second place with a mean of 4.31, social factors in third place with a mean of 4.13, and finally cultural factors in fourth place with a mean of 3.89.

The results also indicated no statistically significant differences attributed to the variables of gender, age group, and educational qualification across all axes and the overall score, except for the personal factors axis, where the significance level was 0.03, and the motivational factors axis, where the significance level was 0.007. The differences were in favor of individuals with a monthly commitment to participation compared to those without such commitment.

The researchers made several recommendations, including investing in the positive motives of individuals’ participation in group fitness classes at sports centers in the West Bank to expand the practice of fitness.

Keywords: personal factors - social factors - cultural factors - group fitness classes - sports centers - motivational factors.

Title

The International Sports Science Journal,

Publisher

The International Sports Science Journal,

Publisher Country

Egypt

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

6

Year

2024

Pages

47-60