What's happening with gym culture?: Exploring emerging adults' perceptions of public fitness facility users
| dc.contributor.author | Engel, Alexander R. | |
| dc.contributor.author | University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Pope, Paige | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-17T22:10:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-17T22:10:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.degree.level | Masters | |
| dc.description.abstract | Within an emerging adult population (ages 18-25), a crucial phase for establishing enduring health behaviours, a decline in PA has been reported despite the well-documented benefits of regular exercise. Public fitness facilities (PFFs) serve as important spaces for exercise, where social dynamics, including the presence of other patrons, can shape perceptions and significantly influence one’s exercise experience (e.g., psychological outcomes and behaviours). Guided by Social Cognitive Theory, the purpose of this study was to understand what factors contribute to the debilitative presence of others at the gym among emerging adult women. To be included in this study, individuals had to identify as women between the ages of 18 and 25, have exercised within a public fitness facility within the six months prior to recruitment and be fluent in English. All participants (n = 10) completed a brief eligibility survey before continuing to their own one-on-one semi-structured interview. During the interviews, participants were asked about their exercise habits, as well as their expectations, values, thoughts, and feelings related to experiences with others in a gym. AI-generated images of potential gym-goers were used to extend the conversation and help participants identify and explain factors they perceived to hinder their exercise experience. Through the lens of a critical realist, a thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted to inductively produce two key themes: (1) Personal Insecurities Triggered by Gym Patrons (sub-themes: Low Confidence in My Exercise Abilities Around Others, Negative Feelings Occur When I Compare Myself to Others, and Social Fears), and (2) Contextual Contributors to a Negative Experience (sub-themes: Too Many People, The Negative Influence of Gender and Physique, and Undesirable Behaviours). This study demonstrated that the debilitating presence of others in a gym environment is multifaceted, extending from one’s own internal biases and emotional capacity to external impacts of the social world. Moreover, the implications of this study include proposed adjustments to various aspects of the public gym environment (ex. gym staff, layout, resources, safety), potential personal strategies to support one’s exercise experience, suggested ways for gym patrons to be facilitative and not debilitative to other’s experiences, and future research directions. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | SSHRC, AGES, ULRF | |
| dc.embargo | No | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10133/7133 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Kinesiology and Physical Education | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Arts and Science | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Thesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science) | |
| dc.subject | perceptions of gym culture | |
| dc.subject | public fitness facility users | |
| dc.subject | young adults | |
| dc.subject | women gym goers | |
| dc.subject | women's gym experiences | |
| dc.subject | physical activity | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Dissertations, Academic | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Physical fitness centers--Psychological aspects--Research | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Physical fitness centers--Social aspects--Research | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Physical fitness for women--Psychological aspects--Research | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Physical fitness for women--Social aspects--Research | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Young women | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Body image in women | |
| dc.title | What's happening with gym culture?: Exploring emerging adults' perceptions of public fitness facility users | |
| dc.type | Thesis |