New research by Â鶹ֱ²¥ has found exercisers are more likely to keep exercising if their fitness instructor adopts a positive communication style rather than a \u2018no pain, no gain\u2019 approach to motivating them.<\/p>\n
Lead paper author, Professor Nikos Ntoumanis, from Curtin\u2019s School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, said as instructors were in a position of authority, the communication style they adopted played an important role in influencing people\u2019s motivation to engage in and sustain regular exercise.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not uncommon for exercise instructors to adopt a \u2018no-pain, no gain\u2019 mentality, often driven by the assumption that more controlling, pressurising environments will be more likely to make fitness class attendees work hard,\u201d Professor Ntoumanis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite the evidence that suggests that this approach undermines rather than fosters quality motivation, fitness instructors typically do not receive training in how to motivate exercisers in a more adaptive way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Ntoumanis said drawing from a self-determination theory (SDT), researchers developed and tested an intervention to train fitness instructors to adopt an adaptive communication style when motivating exercisers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe research showed exercisers were most motivated when three basic psychological needs \u2014 autonomy, relatedness and competence \u2014 were met by their instructor,\u201d Professor Ntoumanis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA supportive instructor acknowledges exercisers\u2019 feelings and perspectives, encourages choice and initiative and identifies, nurtures, and develops exercisers\u2019 interests and goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis supports the overall premise that this type of communication style satisfies exercisers\u2019 psychological needs and promotes autonomous and sustained exercise engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Ntoumanis said the results contributed to the growing evidence supporting the motivational benefits of implementing SDT-based interventions.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite the potential benefits of a need-supportive communication style, evidence suggests the fitness industry is often dominated by motivational approaches which aren\u2019t appropriate to the environment or situation,\u201d Professor Ntoumanis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe development of instructor training programs that pull from contemporary theories of motivation could be an important step to address this gap in instructor training provision.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the trial, 29 indoor cycling instructors were assigned to either an intervention or a control group, comprising a total of 246 class members. Instructors in the intervention group completed a SDT-based communication training program, with both instructors and exercisers responding to questionnaires about instructors\u2019 use of motivational strategies.<\/p>\n