Next Article in Journal
Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Differences between Mains and Bottled Water, in an Area in the Central Area of Romania
Next Article in Special Issue
Understanding Information Processing and Protective Behaviors during the Pandemic: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study
Previous Article in Journal
Does PM2.5 (Pollutant) Reduce Firms’ Innovation Output?
Previous Article in Special Issue
The Landscape of Cigar Marketing in Print Magazines from 2018–2021: Content, Expenditures, Volume, Placement and Reach
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 20
Issue 2
10.3390/ijerph20021113
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

The Impact of Fitness Influencers on a Social Media Platform on Exercise Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Parasocial Relationships

by
Wenjia Li
1,*,
Huangyi Ding
1,
Guifen Xu
1 and
Jidong Yang
2
1
College of Communication and Art Design, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
2
School of Creativity and Art, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021113
Submission received: 30 November 2022 / Revised: 4 January 2023 / Accepted: 5 January 2023 / Published: 8 January 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Media Content on Public Health)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

In the context of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, fitness influencers on social media are greatly involved in people’s home fitness processes, but there is limited research examining the role of fitness influencers on social media in exercise intention. This study aimed to explore whether people’s perceptions of the personal attributes and content quality of fitness influencers can promote a strong emotional connection between the two, thereby influencing people’s exercise intentions. Based on the theory of the parasocial relationship, we investigated the influence of social attractiveness (SA), physical attractiveness (PA), task attractiveness (TA), and content quality (CQ) of fitness influencers on the parasocial relationships (PSRs) between viewers and fitness influencers on social media and whether PSRs positively contribute to viewers’ exercise intentions (EI). The results revealed that SA, PA, TA, and CQ have positive influences on PSRs and CQ; PSRs directly contribute to EI; and PSRs have a mediating effect between EI and CQ. This study provides new insights into understanding the relationship between fitness influencers and people’s online fitness behaviors.
Keywords: social media; parasocial relationships; fitness influencer; exercise intention; COVID-19; personal attributes; fitness video social media; parasocial relationships; fitness influencer; exercise intention; COVID-19; personal attributes; fitness video

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Li, W.; Ding, H.; Xu, G.; Yang, J. The Impact of Fitness Influencers on a Social Media Platform on Exercise Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Parasocial Relationships. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 1113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021113

AMA Style

Li W, Ding H, Xu G, Yang J. The Impact of Fitness Influencers on a Social Media Platform on Exercise Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Parasocial Relationships. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(2):1113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021113

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Wenjia, Huangyi Ding, Guifen Xu, and Jidong Yang. 2023. "The Impact of Fitness Influencers on a Social Media Platform on Exercise Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Parasocial Relationships" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 2: 1113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021113

APA Style

Li, W., Ding, H., Xu, G., & Yang, J. (2023). The Impact of Fitness Influencers on a Social Media Platform on Exercise Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Parasocial Relationships. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021113

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop