Men and women trainers equally effective at promoting exercise adherence, self-efficacy, and fitness in women

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effect of a personal trainer's sex on self-efficacy and fitness in woman clients. METHODS: Women (N.=28; mean age, 41.6 +/- 15.0 years; height, 153.49 +/- 28.11 cm; BMI, 25.9 +/- 6.4 kg/m2) completed a perceptual scale of self-efficacy (BARSE) and fitness tests before and after a training program. Trainers (men and women) met one-on-one with the volunteers on a biweekly basis for 8 weeks. Univariate analyses of change scores and repeated measures analysis of variance with Fisher's LSD pairwise comparisons tested changes in dependent variables by trainer sex. RESULTS: Significant increases were seen in (mean +/- SE; change for men trainers; change for woman trainers): self-efficacy (7.3 +/- 3.4; 7.3 +/- 2.7%); leg press strength (18.2 +/- 3.7; 16.4 +/- 3.3 kg); seated row (6.1 +/- 1.5; 5.3 +/- 1.3 kg); muscular endurance in 60 degrees flexion hold (20.5 +/- 5.8; 24.8 +/- 5.0 s) and wall-sit (19.9 +/- 6.4; 33.5 +/- 5.8 s); but not flexibility (V-sit, 7.11 +/- 5.51; 4.23 +/- 4.50 cm). Chest press strength significantly increased for women trainers only (2.7 +/- 2.2; 5.3 +/- 1.8 kg). Despite this, there were no significant differences for any variable in the change from pre-to-post based on the sex of the trainer. CONCLUSIONS: Both men and woman-led training was effective for increasing markers of self-efficacy and fitness in woman clients. (Cite this article as: Dunn-Lewis C, Dell'Aquila MP, Flanagan SD. Men and women trainers equally effective at promoting exercise adherence, selfefficacy, and fitness in women. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2022;62:47-50. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.10575-4)