Qualitative Research for Influential Factors for Women Who Participate in the Women-only Fitness Club

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate influential factors for women who decided to participate in the women-only fitness club, Curves, with a qualitative research method. The qualitative data was collected with the semi-structured interview and analyzed based on the grounded theory approach using the concepts of self-presentation and the sport/exercise identity theory. The results indicated that there were five influential factors for interviewees to participate in Curves, such as 1) fears of men's eyes toward them in a mixed fitness club, 2) disgust for sweaty smell and body odor of men in a mixed fitness club, 3) the image incongruity between them and typical participants' of mixed fitness club, 4) the all fixed exercise program in Curves, and 5) the necessary time of the exercise program, less than 30 minutes, in Curves. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.