IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/sagope/v13y2023i4p21582440231219325.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing Self-Leadership in Online Fitness Education and Training: Exploring Strategies and Addressing Challenges Among Social Media Influencers in Henan Province, China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang Yangzi
  • Kenny S. L. Cheah
  • Mohd Shahril Nizam Bin Shaharom

Abstract

The advent of social media platforms has brought about a paradigm shift in the dissemination of information, consequently giving rise to a new breed of individuals known as Social Media Influencers (SMIs). These SMIs have exerted a substantial influence on individuals and society as a whole. Within the domain of fitness education and training, the emergence of Social Media Influencers (SMIs) has significantly disrupted conventional approaches to disseminating information. The purpose of this study is to examine the SMIs’ practices of self-leadership and further explained in terms of their challenges, practices, and strategies of online fitness coaching. Qualitative interviews, coding, and thematic analysis were used to address three key research questions. From findings, these SMIs practice several contextual challenges; which include creating quality digital content, lack of creativity, low digital literacy, lack of financial, physical, and marketing skills, falling out of trends, designing unique programs, and adapting to changing environments. To overcome these challenges, SMIs practice self-leadership by upskilling in content and digital marketing, graphic design, and video-making, seeking constant feedback, leveraging word-of-mouth inquiries, and participating in trending workshops and interest groups. By effectively managing these challenges, SMIs can provide valuable fitness education to their audience and have a significant impact on promoting health and wellness.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang Yangzi & Kenny S. L. Cheah & Mohd Shahril Nizam Bin Shaharom, 2023. "Enhancing Self-Leadership in Online Fitness Education and Training: Exploring Strategies and Addressing Challenges Among Social Media Influencers in Henan Province, China," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:21582440231219325
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440231219325
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440231219325
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/21582440231219325?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huiyun Zhu & Kecheng Liu, 2021. "Capturing the Interplay between Risk Perception and Social Media Posting to Support Risk Response and Decision Making," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Kim, Do Yuon & Kim, Hye-Young, 2021. "Influencer advertising on social media: The multiple inference model on influencer-product congruence and sponsorship disclosure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 405-415.
    3. Chengang Zeng, 2023. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: A comparative study of the market demand for Chinese proficiency test preparation books: evidence from e-commerce data," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 207-230, March.
    4. Agnihotri, Arpita & Bhattacharya, Saurabh & Yannopoulou, Natalia & Liu, Martin J., 2022. "Examining social media engagement through health-related message framing in different cultures," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 349-360.
    5. Theresa E Gildner & Elise J Laugier & Zaneta M Thayer, 2020. "Exercise routine change is associated with prenatal depression scores during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women across the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Gordon Chih Ming Ku & Chi-Ming Hsieh, 2020. "Can Fitness Education Programs Satisfy Fitness Professionals’ Competencies? Integrating Traditional and Revised Importance-Performance Analysis and Three-Factor Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Zelin Liu & Xiyan Duan & Hongling Cheng & Zhaoran Liu & Ping Li & Yang Zhang, 2023. "Empowering High-Quality Development of the Chinese Sports Education Market in Light of the “Double Reduction” Policy: A Hybrid SWOT-AHP Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    8. Tsao, Wen-Yu, 2013. "The fitness of product information: Evidence from online recommendations," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 1-9.
    9. Rebeka-Anna Pop & Zsuzsa Săplăcan & Dan-Cristian Dabija & Mónika-Anetta Alt, 2022. "The impact of social media influencers on travel decisions: the role of trust in consumer decision journey," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(5), pages 823-843, March.
    10. Ooi, Keng-Boon & Lee, Voon-Hsien & Hew, Jun-Jie & Leong, Lai-Ying & Tan, Garry Wei-Han & Lim, Ai-Fen, 2023. "Social media influencers: An effective marketing approach?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    11. Amy Pei & Dina Mayzlin, 2022. "Influencing Social Media Influencers Through Affiliation," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 41(3), pages 593-615, May.
    12. Michael G. Goldsby & Elizabeth A. Goldsby & Christopher B. Neck & Christopher P. Neck & Rob Mathews, 2021. "Self-Leadership: A Four Decade Review of the Literature and Trainings," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, March.
    13. Xiaojun Liang & Xin Kuang & Yi Xu & Haibin Xiao, 2023. "The construction of national fitness online platform system under mobile internet technology," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 14(1), pages 98-109, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fayyaz, Muhammad Shahzeb & Abbasi, Amir Zaib & Kumar, Sanjeev & Qureshi, Ammar & Hussain, Khalil & Muhammad, Lakhi, 2025. "Integrating digital influencer persuasion model and theory of planned behavior: The mediating role of consumer involvement in endorsed brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    2. Benevento, Elisabetta & Aloini, Davide & Roma, Paolo & Bellino, Davide, 2025. "The impact of influencers on brand social network growth: Insights from new product launch events on Twitter," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Li, Zhitang & He, Peng & Xu, Henry, 2025. "Optimizing cooperation mechanisms for augmented reality (AR) services: Balancing product returns, pricing, and customer satisfaction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Sestino, Andrea & Nasta, Luigi & Bernando, Alessandro & Giannattasio, Alessandro, 2024. "Just the right push! Social Media as a Therapeutical catalyst: The impact of influencers’ motivational (vs. Neutral) communication on healthy consumption," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Xu Sun & Lide Su & Bo Zhou & Te Bu & Yang Zhang, 2024. "Systematic evaluation of integration between China’s digital economy and sports industry: Two-stage grey relational analysis and vector autoregressive model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Vegas-Macias, Jordi, 2025. "Social contact and value co-creation practices. Tourist–resident encounters and urban cycling in Copenhagen," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Che, Siyu & Jin, Xiaotong & Sheng, Guanghua & Lin, Zhengnan, 2025. "Seeking effective fit: The impact of brand-influencer fit types on consumer brand attitude," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Suhaib Ahmed & Tahir Islam & Abdul Ghaffar, 2024. "Shaping Brand Loyalty through Social Media Influencers: The Mediating Role of Follower Engagement and Social Attractiveness," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    9. Reem Mohamed Gouda & Yasser Tawfik Halim, 2025. "The role of sustainable social media content in enhancing customer loyalty in the hospitality industry," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-26, December.
    10. Christopher B. Neck & Christopher P. Neck & Elizabeth A. Goldsby & Michael G. Goldsby, 2023. "Pushing Down on Me: The Paradoxical Role of Self-Leadership in the Context of Work Pressure," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, April.
    11. Conde, Rita & Casais, Beatriz, 2023. "Micro, macro and mega-influencers on instagram: The power of persuasion via the parasocial relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    12. Zofia Saternus & Patrick Weber & Oliver Hinz, 2022. "The effects of advertisement disclosure on heavy and light Instagram users," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(3), pages 1351-1372, September.
    13. Hofstetter, Reto & Gollnhofer, Johanna Franziska, 2024. "The creator’s dilemma: Resolving tensions between authenticity and monetization in social media," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 427-435.
    14. He, Yuanqiong & Zhou, Qi & Canfield, Jessica & Yuan, Hong, 2024. "Not all friends are created equal: The effect of friendship type on performance of shared native ads on social media," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    15. Anand Jhawar & Sanjeev Varshney & Prashant Kumar, 2024. "Sponsorship Disclosure on social media: literature review and future research agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(3), pages 1589-1617, September.
    16. Antioco, Michael & Coussement, Kristof, 2018. "Misreading of consumer dissatisfaction in online product reviews: Writing style as a cause for bias," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 301-310.
    17. Kopalle, Praveen K. & Lehmann, Donald R. & Ramachandran, Divya & Wetzels, Ruud, 2025. "Journal of Business Research Publications 1973–2024: Topics, methodological approaches, data, and analyses conducted," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    18. Christian Dragin-Jensen & Mia Post-Lundgaard & Oliver Schnittka, 2024. "The Instagrammable Hotel: A Sequential Explanatory Design Study of Hotel- and User-Generated Content," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-19, December.
    19. Yuqian Wei & Hengyu Liu & Wenhui Zhuo & Keun-Soo Park, 2025. "The Influence of Social Media Attributes on Impulsive Travel Intentions: Integrating the Stimulus–Organism–Response Theory and Information Adoption Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-19, May.
    20. Hsu, Meng-Hsiang & Chang, Chun-Ming & Chuang, Li-Wen, 2015. "Understanding the determinants of online repeat purchase intention and moderating role of habit: The case of online group-buying in Taiwan," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 45-56.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:21582440231219325. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.