Influence of Social Identity and Industry Role on Implicit Biases in Fitness Professionals

Implicit biases are unconscious, internally held beliefs shaped by cultural norms, societal structures, and personal experiences and are often related to societal constructs such as race, gender, age, body shape, and ability. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between social identity, industry role, and implicit biases in fitness professionals. Participants (n=296) were randomly assigned two implicit association tests (IATs): disability, weight, gender, skin-tone, or age. IATs measured implicit bias through word and pictorial associations and timed response to word/picture stimuli. Interviews (n=25) were conducted to further examine participants' psychosocial beliefs and experiences related to biases. Quantitative data revealed moderate preferences for younger, lighter skinned, thin, male individuals concurrent with a strong preference for able bodies. Certified personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches held significantly stronger preferences towards younger people compared to participants with other certifications. Older participants were significantly more likely to prefer White, able-bodied, thin individuals compared to their younger counterparts. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) participants and participants certified as personal trainers reported a significantly greater gender bias compared to White participants and those with other certifications. Interviews revealed themes including unacknowledged biases, body aesthetics conflict, negative/positive weight associations, and negative/positive reactions to bias-related discourse. In this study's sample of fitness professionals, both quantitative and qualitative data revealed preferences for the dominant body type (e.g., young, White, thin, able-bodied, and male). Addressing these biases is an imperative step in upholding the quality of care that clients receive.