The Preventive Role of Job Satisfaction in Fitness Trainers’ Quiet Quitting Tendencies

Challenging working conditions for fitness club trainers may reduce job satisfaction and trigger negative behaviors such as quiet quitting, withdrawal, and burnout, underscoring the critical importance of examining job satisfaction and organizational support to protect trainers’ well-being and ensure customer retention and organizational sustainability. The purpose of this study is to examine fitness trainers’ quiet quitting tendencies and to investigate the preventive role of job satisfaction in these tendencies. A quantitative research approach was adopted, employing a correlational survey design. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 315 fitness trainers selected using a convenience sampling method. Participants completed measurement instruments with established validity and reliability, including the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) and the Quiet Quitting Scale (QQS). After testing the assumptions required for parametric analyses, descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses were conducted. The results indicated that male trainers demonstrated significantly higher levels of quiet quitting compared to female trainers. In addition, trainers with higher income levels reported higher job satisfaction, whereas trainers with lower income levels exhibited higher levels of quiet quitting. Trainers who were satisfied with fitness club management demonstrated higher job satisfaction, while those who were dissatisfied reported higher quiet quitting levels. Furthermore, a moderate and negative relationship was found between job satisfaction and quiet quitting tendencies. These findings indicate that enhancing job satisfaction by improving working conditions, strengthening recognition and rewards, increasing managerial support, promoting work–life balance and addressing psychological needs effectively reduces quiet quitting behaviors.