Research Information System
19th FIEPS European Congress, Antalya, Turkey, 24 - 27 April 2025, pp.118, (Summary Text)
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the preference for Personal Training Studios over Open Gyms. This study explores the psychological and motivational factors underlying this shift through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Twenty individuals were interviewed using a semi-structured format, and the data were analyzed thematically based on SDT’s three basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—as well as the five-component framework proposed by Teixeira et al. (2012). The findings suggest that Personal Training Studios create a more need-supportive environment that fulfills individuals' psychological needs, thereby enhancing intrinsic motivation and promoting consistent, self-determined engagement in exercise. In contrast, Open Gyms often fail to provide such support, leading to externally regulated and less sustainable exercise behaviors. This study highlights the explanatory power of SDT in the context of physical activity and emphasizes the importance of designing exercise environments that support basic psychological needs to foster long-term adherence.