Consolidation, Stages of Change, and Loyalty among Users of Public Sports and Health Services Aged 12–16

Abstract

There are two main lines of inquiry in the literature on adherence and/or loyalty to the practice of physical activity and to health services: one focuses on the impact of perceived quality of sports and health services and satisfaction with these services on user loyalty, while the other concludes that users with more self-determined motivation at more advanced stages of physical activity display higher levels of physical activity and greater intentions to continue this activity. The objective of this study is to ascertain the impact of different dimensions of sports service quality on satisfaction and loyalty among users aged 12 to 16 years old and to identify any differences between adolescent users at more and less consolidated stages of physical activity. A total of 1717 minors with a mean age of 13.83 ± 1.32 years who practise organised physical activity at public sports centres in Nuevo León (Mexico), 51.5% of whom were boys, participated in the study. The model of structural equations linking quality, satisfaction, and loyalty displayed adequate indices. The results showed that the staff, specific activity, and user satisfaction are predictors of loyalty. Significant differences were only found between minors at consolidated and non-consolidated stages of physical activity in the relationship between service personnel and loyalty. In conclusion, human resources and their deployment are predictive of loyalty towards sports and health services among adolescents.

Does the National Fitness Policy Promote National Health?—An Empirical Study from China

“…Polyakova and Ramchandani [ 25 ] examined regular users’ perceptions of the quality of public sports centers in England and analyzed the possible challenges and obstacles of multifunctional public sports facilities in creating sustainable sports participation. Fernández-Martínez et al [ 26 ] examined the satisfaction and loyalty of users of public sports and health services aged 12–16 years in Spain at different stages and the possible impact of different dimensions of service quality on them. Carrad et al [ 27 ] used a multi-case study to explore the process of organizational change and its possible perceived facilitators and potential barriers in the implementation of a health promotion program in New South Wales, Australia, specifying that customized health promotion strategies in different contexts require the involvement of leaders and the organization of practical actions.…”