The post-COVID-19 pandemic fitness landscape: determinants of fitness participation in commercial gyms in Indonesia

Authors

  • Bayu Ristiawan universitas negeri surabaya
  • Eva Ferdita Yuhantini
  • Hapsari Shinta Citra Puspita Dewi
  • Erta Erta
  • Suryanto Agung Prabowo
  • Nur Salsabila Rhesa Pandhadha Putra
  • Suparata Kiartivich
  • Haniifan Muhammad Naim
  • Catur Supriyanto
  • Surono Surono
  • Sri Wahyuni
  • Dewangga Yudhistira universitas negeri surabaya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v74.118072

Keywords:

Fitness participation, post-COVID-19, commercial gyms, Indonesia, PLS-SEM

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic changed physical activity behaviour worldwide, promoting home exercise and the use of digital platforms. In the post-pandemic context, this study aims to analyse the factors influencing the return of the Indonesian population to commercial gyms, considering health awareness, perceived safety, digital fitness experience, social motivation, and service quality.

Methodology: An explanatory quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected from 1,040 active gym members in several major cities in Indonesia and analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach.

Results: The results indicate that the model explains 57.1% of the variance in participation in fitness activities. All hypothesised relationships were statistically significant. Service quality was the strongest predictor, followed by perceived safety and health consciousness. Social motivation indirectly influenced participation through improved service quality, while digital fitness experience strengthened the relationship between perceived safety and participation.

Conclusion: Fitness participation in the post-pandemic stage in Indonesia is determined by the interaction of health, safety, digital, social, and service factors, highlighting the need for integrated strategies to revitalise the fitness industry.

References

Beldad, A. D., & Hegner, S. M. (2018). Expanding the Technology Acceptance Model with the Inclusion of Trust, Social Influence, and Health Valuation to Determine the Predictors of German Users’ Willingness to Continue using a Fitness App: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 34(9), 882–893. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2017.1403220

Bu, F., Bone, J. K., Mitchell, J. J., Steptoe, A., & Fancourt, D. (2021). Longitudinal changes in physical activity during and after the first national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97065-1

Chou, T. Y., & Lee, P. Y. (2023). Predicting Athlete Intentions for Using Sports Complexes in the Post-Pandemic Era. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064864

Chtourou, H., Trabelsi, K., H’Mida, C., Boukhris, O., Glenn, J. M., Brach, M., Bentlage, E., Bott, N., Jesse Shephard, R., Ammar, A., & Luigi Bragazzi, N. (2020). Staying physically active during the quarantine and self-isolation period for controlling and mitigating the covid-19 pandemic: A systematic overview of the literature. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(August). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01708

Drehlich, M., Naraine, M., Rowe, K., Lai, S. K., Salmon, J., Brown, H., Koorts, H., Macfarlane, S., & Ridgers, N. D. (2020). Using the technology acceptance model to explore adolescents’ perspectives on combining technologies for physical activity promotion within an intervention: Usability study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.2196/15552

Falese, L., Langiano, E., Ferrara, M., Diotaiuti, P., Rodio, A., Di Libero, T., Andrade, A., & De Vito, E. (2025). Perception of quality and adoption of health-preventive measures in gym-goers after the COVID-19 pandemic peak in Italy. BMC Public Health, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22870-6

García-Fernández, J., Gálvez-Ruíz, P., Fernández-Gavira, J., Vélez-Colón, L., Pitts, B., & Bernal-García, A. (2018). The effects of service convenience and perceived quality on perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty in low-cost fitness centers. Sport Management Review, 21(3), 250–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2017.07.003

García-Fernández, J., Gálvez-Ruiz, P., Velez-Colon, L., & Bernal-Garcia, A. (2016). Service convenience, perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty: A study of consumers from low-cost fitness centers in Spain. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 16(4), 1146–1152. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2016.04184

Hair, J.F., Hult, G.T.M., Ringle, C.M., Sarstedt, M. (2014). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). European Journal of Tourism Research, 6(2), 211–213.

Hair, J. F., Matthews, L. M., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107.

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2016). Testing measurement invariance of composites using partial least squares. International Marketing Review, 33(3), 405–431. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-09-2014-0304

Jiang, Z., Zhou, Q., Shu, H., & Jiang, L. (2025). Impact of COVID-19 on physical activity patterns in non-professional populations in Asia: a mini review of pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. Frontiers in Public Health, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604185

Lau, B., Sharma, I., Manku, S., Kobylianski, J., Wong, L. Y., Ibáñez-Carrasco, F., Carusone, S. C., & O’Brien, K. K. (2022). Considerations for developing and implementing an online community-based exercise intervention with adults living with HIV: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 12(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059294

Liu, S., Chiang, Y. Te, Tseng, C. C., Ng, E., Yeh, G. L., & Fang, W. T. (2018). The theory of planned behavior to predict protective behavioral intentions against PM2.5 in parents of young children from urban and rural Beijing, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102215

Moghimi, R., Nasirzadeh, M., Ahmadinia, H., Pourmahmoudi, A., & Karimi, M. A. (2023). Effects of virtual interventions based on the theory of planned behavior to improve obesity-preventive lifestyle among girls, during COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17259-2

Ned Kock. (2015). Common Method Bias in PLS-SEM. International Journal of E-Collaboration, 11(4), 1–10. https://services.igi-global.com/resolvedoi/resolve.aspx?doi=10.4018/ijec.2015100101

Pu, B., Zhang, L., Tang, Z., & Qiu, Y. (2020). The relationship between health consciousness and home-based exercise in china during the covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165693

Sarstedt, M., & Liu, Y. (2024). Advanced marketing analytics using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Journal of Marketing Analytics, 12(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41270-023-00279-7

Sharma, V., Payal, R., Dutta, K., Poulose, J., & Kapse, M. (2024). A comprehensive examination of factors influencing intention to continue usage of health and fitness apps: a two-stage hybrid SEM-ML analysis. Cogent Business and Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2391124

Thompson, W. R. (2023). Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2023. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal, 27(1), 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0000000000000834

Urban, I. N., Post, A., Nugroho, A. W., Septian, M., Wibowo, R., Kurniawan, A., & Woro, R. (2025). PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. 3(75), 5–14.

Wisutwattanasak, P., Champahom, T., Jomnonkwao, S., Aryuyo, F., Se, C., & Ratanavaraha, V. (2023). Examining the Impact of Service Quality on Passengers’ Intentions to Utilize Rail Transport in the Post-Pandemic Era: An Integrated Approach of SERVQUAL and Health Belief Model. Behavioral Sciences, 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100789

Zaccagni, L., Toselli, S., & Barbieri, D. (2021). Physical activity during covid-19 lockdown in italy: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126416

Zhou, N., Mu, F., Zhang, Y., Zang, D., Zhu, W., Wang, X., Wang, W., Li, H., Wang, J., Zhang, X., Li, C., Li, Y., He, M., Zhang, W., Liu, Q., Lu, B., Han, S., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., … Li, B. (2025). How electronic health literacy influences physical activity behaviour among university students: A moderated mediation model. Plos One, 20(8 August), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330637

Downloads

Published

01-01-2026

Issue

Section

Original Research Article

How to Cite

Ristiawan, B., Yuhantini, E. F., Puspita Dewi, H. S. C., Erta, E., Prabowo, S. A., Pandhadha Putra, N. S. R., Kiartivich, S., Naim, H. M., Supriyanto, C., Surono, S., Wahyuni, S., & Yudhistira, D. (2026). The post-COVID-19 pandemic fitness landscape: determinants of fitness participation in commercial gyms in Indonesia. Retos, 74, 945-956. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v74.118072