The influence of subjective well-being on the perceptions of customers of private sports centres. linear models vs qualitative comparative analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT RESEARCH QUESTION: There has been high demand for fitness centres, and customers’ perceptions and behaviours have become a key element for the viability of these services. This work analyses the perceptions of the clients of a fitness centre through the different management variables, as well as the subjective well-being of the users. RESEARCH METHODS: The sample was made up of 398 customers of the sports centre. To this end, two different data analysis techniques were used, such as hierarchical regressions (HRM) and sets of comparative qualitative models (fsQCA), in order to observe the results that were obtained and determine their contributions to the literature. RESULTS AND FINDINGS: The regressions show how the management variables predict each model, with little increase in variance with the addition of subjective well-being. However, the fsQCA shows that the combination of variables more broadly predicts each condition, with customers’ level of satisfaction and personal well-being being perceived as highly influential in their future intentions. IMPLICATIONS: The practical applications that this paper may have in the field of sports services, specifically in sports centres, and information to help managers discover users’ perceptions of the sports centre through these methodologies, are presented.