Parental satisfaction and loyalty and their relationship with children's adherence to physical activities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v71.116536

Keywords:

Ecuaciones estructurales, programa deportivo escolar, hijos, satisfacción, Lealtad

Abstract

Introduction: Promoting an active and healthy lifestyle among children and teenagers is a key objective. When children are young, parents play a vital role by encouraging their children to adopt these habits early on.

Objective: This study seeks to examine how parents’ satisfaction and loyalty influences their children’s future involvement in sport. Using a structural equation model (PLS-SEM) on a sample of 2,422 young children and teenagers taking part in a school sports program in Spain, we posit a predictive model of their future involvement.

Discussion: Results show that instructors, training, and facilities have a significant and positive effect on parents’ evaluation and that the greater the parents’ satisfaction the greater their behavioral intention (loyalty).

Conclusions: Moreover, we confirm that parent loyalty is a good predictor of children’s future involvement in sport. This study helps to better understand what influence parents have on their children's involvement in sports and it helps to fill the gap concerning what happens between when children start doing physical activity and their future continuance within the framework of a school sports program.

Author Biographies

Marta Laguna-García, Universidad de Valladolid

Marta Laguna-García is Associate Professor in the Department of Business and Marketing at the University of Valladolid (Spain). She has been Director of the Faculty of Social, Legal and Communication Sciences and Vice-Director of Economics and Infrastructures at the same centre. Her research areas are closely related to relationship marketing and service marketing, including consumer behaviour, decision making, service evaluation and service experience. She is a member of the GIR IM2 and of the Research Unit recognised by the Junta de Castilla y León, and has participated in numerous national and international research projects. She has extensive international experience, having carried out research stays in several European (London Metropolitan University, Bournemouth University and International Hellenic University) and Asian universities (Shizuoka University, Japan). He has participated in more than 50 national and international conferences and has published in high impact international journals.

Juan Carlos Marnique Arribas, Universidad de Valladolid

Juan Carlos Manrique Arribas is Professor at the University of Valladolid (Spain), PhD in Education. He has 39 years of teaching experience in Physical Education and History at different levels and contexts. He teaches at the Faculty of Education of Segovia in the subjects of Physical Education and Health (Primary Education Degree) and Nature and Meaning of Educational Innovation. Historical Perspective of Pedagogical Renewal and Documentary Sources for Research: Search and Analysis Strategies (Master's Degree in Research and Innovation in Education). He has participated as an organiser, speaker and assistant in numerous training activities (courses, conferences, seminars, etc.) in Spain. He is currently a member of research teams in ongoing international, national and regional research projects and of the National Network of Training Evaluation. He has published more than 40 articles in national and international journals as well as different books of both didactic and scientific nature in his priority research areas. His lines of research are training evaluation, didactics of Physical Education and History of Sport in Spain.

 

Andrés Palacios Picos, Universidad de Valladolid

Andrés Palacios Picos is Associate Professor at the University of Valladolid (Spain), PhD in Psychology, Fundamental Computer Master and Senior Specialist in Computer Education. Teaching experience on Psychology acquired over 40 years of Professor in different levels and contexts. He is currently Professor of University of the Department of Psychology of the University of Valladolid; Teaches in the Faculty of Education of Segovia in the subjects of Developmental Psychology and Research Methods in Social Sciences (Master of Research in Education). He has worked as an advisor to the Ministry of Education (Spain). He has participated as an organizer, speaker and assistant in numerous training activities (courses, congresses, seminars, etc.) in Spain and abroad. He is currently a member of research teams in international, national and regional research projects underway and the National Training Assessment Network. He has published more than 40 articles in national and international journals as well as different books of both didactic and scientific nature in his research priority areas. Its priority fields of research are the quantitative data analysis.

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Published

2025-08-29

How to Cite

Laguna-García, M., Marnique Arribas, J. C., & Palacios Picos, A. (2025). Parental satisfaction and loyalty and their relationship with children’s adherence to physical activities. Retos, 71, 746–759. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v71.116536

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Vol. 71 (2025)

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Original Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Marta Laguna-García, Juan Carlos Marnique Arribas, Andrés Palacios Picos

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