Fitness professional´s self-efficacy beliefs

Author(s)

Keila Michelly Canhina Sachimbombo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Rio Claro. 2017-08-29.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro
• Defense date: 2017-01-30
• Advisor: Roberto Tadeu Iaochite

Abstract

Despite the large number of gym centers and the number of graduates of the bachelor's degree in Physical Education, few contributions have investigated how these professionals mobilize knowledge, skills and attitudes working in the group exercise classes. The Social Cognitive Theory gives us elements to understand the hole of the beliefs at this mobilization. We highlight the self-efficacy belief as an important variable to understand what the individuals do with the tools they own. Thus, the goal for this research is to characterize the perceptions about the professional action related to the group gymnastics, identifying the knowledges, skills, attitudes and challenges. In addition, to identify the self-efficacy beliefs and their sources of constitution. There were ten Fitness professionals who were divided into two groups: Profissionais Formadores Experts (PFEs) e Profissionais Práticos (PPs). It is a descriptive-exploratory and qualitative research that used as instrument for data collection a semi-structured interview script. Through the content analysis techniques and, with the support of the software Nvivo11, we have found the follow results: a) the initial training was recognized as a knowledge acquisition space (conceptual, procedural), however, PPs and PEPs attribute the skills (planning, communication, encouragement and management) and attitudes (relational, personal, professionals) to professional experiences; b) PPs and PFEs highlighted three main challenges: the heterogeneity of the students, the loss of the popularity of gymnastics modalities and, the work conditions; c) PPs considered the self-efficacy sensitive regarding to the knowledge about the content taught and to the group of students who compose the class. With relation of the sources of self-efficacy, the mastery experience, vicarious experience and the verbal persuasion were strongly associated to the work environment, the initial professional experiences and, to the continuing education courses. The information from the students, managers and more experienced teachers were considered fundamental to the construction of the feeling of trust. The beginning of the career was identified as the most sensitive to the feelings of nervousness and insecurity. PPs did not indicate the experiences gained at the initial training as meaningful to the self-efficacy construction. Thus, we address these results to the professional training, Fitness industry and organization of the professional, considering urgent to think programs that re-signify the tools of this action, enabling the construction of self-efficacy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/03371-5 - Self-efficacy beliefs and fitness professionals working field
• Grantee: Keila Michelly Canhina Sachimbombo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master