The Effects of Middle-Aged Women’s Motivations for Participating in Pilates on Exercise Commitment and Satisfaction

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine how middle-aged women’s motivations for participating in Pilates affect their levels of exercise engagement and overall satisfaction with exercise. Methods The research instruments utilized were items on participation motivation, exercise engagement, and exercise satisfaction. Data were collected from middle-aged women using Pilates studios in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in May 2024. After explaining the study purpose and obtaining consent, self-administered questionnaires were distributed. Among 312 responses, 300 were used for final analysis. Data analysis included frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression using SPSS version 29.0. Results The results of the study revealed that, firstly, health, appearance, and enjoyment motives positively influenced exercise engagement. Secondly, these motives also had a positive effect on exercise satisfaction. Lastly, cognitive and behavioral engagement positively influenced emotional and social satisfaction, while only cognitive engagement affected physical satisfaction. Conclusions As implications, identifying individual motivations and applying personalized programs were suggested to enhance exercise engagement and increase satisfaction among middle-aged women participating in Pilates.