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Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy...
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Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 25493

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pablo Galvez-Ruiz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Valencian International University, 46002 Valencia, Spain
Interests: physical activity; sport management; consumer; perceived quality; marketing; early intervention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vera Pedragosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sport, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 1169-023 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: sport management; sport marketing; consumer behaviour; loyalty; fitness industry
Dr. Jerónimo García-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Education and Sports, Universidad de Sevilla, 41008 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: sport management; sport entrepreneurship; sport consumer; loyalty; fitness industry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated a great deal of change and innovation within the sports sector. In particular, the vast majority of employees within the sector now offer online services so that their clients may continue to exercise and engage in physical activity. In fact, sports technology and online sports services are changing the behaviors and needs of practitioners, possibly creating new demographics of sports consumers and generating new business opportunities for organizations.

Due to this unprecedented situation within the sports sector, several different questions have arisen: What kinds of online services are sports organizations offering? What kinds of platforms and tools are sports organizations using? What are the emerging trends in sports consumers’ usage and perceptions of these new digital tools? Do online sports services improve or worsen sports adherence rates? Do they promote participation at home, in open spaces or in sports facilities? Do sports managers and instructors have adequate digital skills to take advantage of digital tools? What are the possible strategies for greater promotion of physical activity? What new business models have emerged with the development of new online sports technology?

An exploration of the above and other related questions would increase our understanding of the current situation in the sports services sector in addition to helping to identify the important challenges for the sector in the coming years. For this reason, this Special Issue aims to answer the above questions by establishing three objectives. The first is to determine the ways in which organizations have adapted their services and products to the use of digital and online platforms. The second objective is to present findings on the impact of digital and online tools used by sports organizations in promoting physical activity. The third objective is to discern the adaptations and perceptions of sports managers, instructors and consumers to the new reality of online sports services. 

Dr. Pablo Galvez Ruiz
Dr. Vera Pedragosa
Dr. Jerónimo García-Fernández
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sports services
  • digital marketing
  • sports apps
  • fitness app
  • sports technology
  • social media
  • big data

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1036 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Path to the Sustainable Development of Sports-Consuming Cities—A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Fuzzy Sets Based on Data from 35 Cities in China
by Xinze Li, Ronghui Yu, Chenjie Yan and Hongwei Xie
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610188 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2447
Abstract
The prospects of China’s sports sector hinge on how sports cities can thrive sustainably in the context of the new global pandemic, unlocking consumer potential and boosting domestic demand. In this study, 35 Chinese cities were chosen as research samples, and research methods [...] Read more.
The prospects of China’s sports sector hinge on how sports cities can thrive sustainably in the context of the new global pandemic, unlocking consumer potential and boosting domestic demand. In this study, 35 Chinese cities were chosen as research samples, and research methods such as literature, logical analysis, and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis were used to select conditional variables such as government policy promotion and assistance, expert human resources, sports competitions and events, stadiums and facilities, and sponsorship by sports enterprises to examine how Chinese sports-consuming cities can develop sustainably. The research discovered that sports contests and events, as well as stadiums and facilities, are the essential prerequisites for the sustainable growth of sports-consuming cities, and that diverse combinations of the two may play a vital role in different circumstances. For the sustainable development of sports-consuming cities, there are four clusters and three models, which correspond to the “Venue + Event” model (Clusters 1 and 2), the “Event-led” model (Cluster 3), and the “Venue-led” model (Cluster 4). To encourage the high-quality growth of China’s sports business, each city may establish its development strategy based on its unique qualities. The goal is to supply Chinese expertise for the long-term growth of Western sports cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population)
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13 pages, 739 KiB  
Article
Validity and Reliability of a Wearable Fitness Technology Scale in Portugal
by Vera Pedragosa, Salvador Angosto and Celina Gonçalves
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 5927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105927 - 13 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2467
Abstract
Currently, the use of technological devices for monitoring physical activity and in other mobile applications is widespread among sports users and is continuously growing. The aim of this study was the validation of the reliability of the use of Wearable Fitness Technology (WFT) [...] Read more.
Currently, the use of technological devices for monitoring physical activity and in other mobile applications is widespread among sports users and is continuously growing. The aim of this study was the validation of the reliability of the use of Wearable Fitness Technology (WFT) in the context of fitness through quantitative analysis. Data collection was conducted online during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The sample consisted of 177 members of fitness centres who used MYZONE technology in Portugal. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) (Factor v10) and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (AMOS v22.0) were used to test the item fit. The results showed adequate fits, identifying a total of 14 items in a single factor to assess WFT in MYZONE users in fitness centres. The reliability of the scale showed adequate indices within the indicated limits. This study extends the current literature on WFT; provides information for providers, managers, and members; and aims to improve the fitness experience by developing a valid and reliable tool to assess the characteristics and incidence of WFT in fitness centres. The complexity of the WFT will affect the degree of user engagement with the fitness centre, highlighting the importance of using staff skills to generate motivational and innovative challenges to improve the service experience. Furthermore, this scale could be used to examine the influences of WFT on managers’ and members’ perceptions of the service experience in the Portuguese context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population)
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17 pages, 673 KiB  
Article
Dimensions of Service Quality in Health-Fitness Clubs in China
by Karen Kaijuan Xu, Kenny Kuanchou Chen, Euisoo Kim, Jerónimo García-Fernández, John Nauright and James J. Zhang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010567 - 9 Oct 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4699
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the dimensions of service quality in fitness clubs in China and examine their impact on customer satisfaction. In Phase I of the study, we collected qualitative data from online comments related to service quality in [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to explore the dimensions of service quality in fitness clubs in China and examine their impact on customer satisfaction. In Phase I of the study, we collected qualitative data from online comments related to service quality in 30 Tera Wellness clubs in Shanghai (k = 6252). Conducting content analysis, we synthesized the information and identified preliminary themes and formulated measurement statements. Phase II implemented a series of quantitative research procedures to examine the measurement properties of statements developed in Phase I. Conducting exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling analyses based on responses of club members (N = 533), we identified a total of 27 items in six dimensions: service recovery, service assurance, facility function, program operation, instructor quality, and staff performance. These factors significantly (p < 0.05) predicted customer satisfaction with fitness clubs in China. The findings highlight the importance of high-quality service delivery, service recovery, and service assurance and pinpoint specific areas for improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population)
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11 pages, 2348 KiB  
Article
Predicting Fitness Centre Dropout
by Pedro Sobreiro, Pedro Guedes-Carvalho, Abel Santos, Paulo Pinheiro and Celina Gonçalves
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10465; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910465 - 5 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2853
Abstract
The phenomenon of dropout is often found among customers of sports services. In this study we intend to evaluate the performance of machine learning algorithms in predicting dropout using available data about their historic use of facilities. The data relating to a sample [...] Read more.
The phenomenon of dropout is often found among customers of sports services. In this study we intend to evaluate the performance of machine learning algorithms in predicting dropout using available data about their historic use of facilities. The data relating to a sample of 5209 members was taken from a Portuguese fitness centre and included the variables registration data, payments and frequency, age, sex, non-attendance days, amount billed, average weekly visits, total number of visits, visits hired per week, number of registration renewals, number of members referrals, total monthly registrations, and total member enrolment time, which may be indicative of members’ commitment. Whilst the Gradient Boosting Classifier had the best performance in predicting dropout (sensitivity = 0.986), the Random Forest Classifier was the best at predicting non-dropout (specificity = 0.790); the overall performance of the Gradient Boosting Classifier was superior to the Random Forest Classifier (accuracy 0.955 against 0.920). The most relevant variables predicting dropout were “non-attendance days”, “total length of stay”, and “total amount billed”. The use of decision trees provides information that can be readily acted upon to identify member profiles of those at risk of dropout, giving also guidelines for measures and policies to reduce it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population)
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13 pages, 379 KiB  
Article
Influence of Fitness Apps on Sports Habits, Satisfaction, and Intentions to Stay in Fitness Center Users: An Experimental Study
by Manel Valcarce-Torrente, Vicente Javaloyes, Leonor Gallardo, Jerónimo García-Fernández and Antoni Planas-Anzano
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10393; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910393 - 2 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5318
Abstract
The use of technology in sports and fitness is proliferating thanks to advances to facilitate its practice and improve adherence. Beyond adherence, it is important that technology is understood as a facilitating medium. The main objective of this study is to know the [...] Read more.
The use of technology in sports and fitness is proliferating thanks to advances to facilitate its practice and improve adherence. Beyond adherence, it is important that technology is understood as a facilitating medium. The main objective of this study is to know the influence of the use of the fitness application (app) on sports habits, customer satisfaction and maintenance intention of fitness center users. For this, an experimental, controlled and randomized study was carried out, characterized by being a field trial, with a sample of 66 participants divided into a control group (n = 33) and an experimental group (n = 33), with 38 (57.6%) men and 28 (42.4%) women who self-monitored their physical activity for 8 weeks. The dimensions analyzed between the pre- and post-intervention phases were the changes in their sporting habits (frequency of attendance and duration of the session), the changes in satisfaction and the intention to stay with respect to the fitness center. The results in general do not show significant differences between the two groups and conclude that the use of the fitness app did not directly influence the sports habits of the participants. There were also no significant differences in terms of satisfaction with the fitness center or in their intention to stay in the fitness center. Therefore, it is shown that the use of the fitness app, as a single download or use element, is not enough to improve habits, satisfaction or the intention to stay in the fitness center. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population)
20 pages, 3673 KiB  
Article
The Impact of COVID-19 on Sport in Twitter: A Quantitative and Qualitative Content Analysis
by Luis-Millán González, José Devís-Devís, Maite Pellicer-Chenoll, Miquel Pans, Alberto Pardo-Ibañez, Xavier García-Massó, Fernanda Peset, Fernanda Garzón-Farinós and Víctor Pérez-Samaniego
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094554 - 25 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5877
Abstract
The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has transformed many aspects of people’s daily life, including sports. Social networks have been flooded on these issues. The present study aims to analyze the tweets produced relating to sports and COVID-19. From the end of January [...] Read more.
The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has transformed many aspects of people’s daily life, including sports. Social networks have been flooded on these issues. The present study aims to analyze the tweets produced relating to sports and COVID-19. From the end of January to the beginning of May 2020, over 4,000,000 tweets on this subject were downloaded through the Twitter search API. Once the duplicates, replicas, and retweets were removed, 119,253 original tweets were analyzed. A quantitative–qualitative content analysis was used to study the selected tweets. Posts dynamics regarding sport and exercise evolved according to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, shifting from considering sport as a healthy bastion to an activity exposed to disease like any other. Most media professional sporting events received great attention on Twitter, while grassroots and women’s sport were relegated to a residual role. The analysis of the 30 topics identified focused on the social, sporting, economic and health impact of the pandemic on the sport. Sporting cancellations, leisure time and socialization disruptions, club bankruptcies, sports training and athletes’ uncertain career development were the main concerns. Although general health measures appeared in the tweets analyzed, those addressed to sports practice were relatively scarce. Finally, this study shows the importance of Twitter as a means of conveying social attitudes towards sports and COVID-19 and its potential to generate alternative responses in future stages of the pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Services and Digital Actions for an Active and Healthy Population)
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