This study aimed to examine the effects of supervised fitness training under the guidance of a personal trainer and those of competitive fitness training with others and reveal the effects of specific differences between them in a detailed manner. The study's participants consisted of 66 healthy male adults (age: 29.2 ± 5.4 years). The participants were divided into three groups: the individual training group (n = 21), which served as the control group; the exercising with a partner group (n = 22); and the group trained by a personal trainer (n = 23). Each participant was subsequently assessed using one repetition maximum bench press, squats, skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, and a questionnaire regarding nutritional plan and injury to compare the effects of training sessions over a period of 12 weeks. Among the three groups, only the group trained by a personal trainer showed an obvious enhancement in fat reduction compared to baseline (-1.61 kg, p = 0.033), which was suggestive of a salient trend that far surpassed those of the individual training group and the exercising with a partner group. Regarding squats, only the group trained by a personal trainer showed a significant change compared to the individual training group (p = 0.003). Regarding the participants' consistent use of a nutritional plan, only the group trained by a personal trainer exhibited a palpable tendency (p < 0.001); furthermore, the effect of preventing injury in the group trained by a personal trainer was more notable than that in the individual training group and the exercising with a partner group. Our results indicate that a fitness personal trainer service is effective in expediting the process of achieving fitness goals in a relatively safe manner, thereby substantiating the diversified values of the fitness personal trainer service.

Drug-dependent individuals often face severe physical and mental health impairments, necessitating safe and adaptable rehabilitation strategies. This study aims to investigate the effects of Pilates exercise on the physical and mental health of drug-dependent individuals. Specifically, the study seeks to evaluate changes in body composition, physical fitness, blood biochemistry, and psychological outcomes following a structured Pilates intervention. This study was conducted as a double-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. A total of 43 substance-dependent individuals were recruited from the Judong Drug Rehabilitation Center and randomly assigned to either the Pilates intervention group (n = 22) or the control group (n = 21). The experimental group underwent Pilates program of two weekly sessions for 24 weeks, while the control group received conventional rehabilitation. We assessed physical and mental health indicators at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to discern inter-group differences, and Spearman correlation analysis was applied to assess the relationship between fluctuations in scores on anxiety and depression scales and those of associated physiological metrics. After 24 weeks of Pilates intervention, the intervention group showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, sit-and-reach distance, push-up performance, one-leg standing with eyes closed, vital capacity, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count. Psychological assessments revealed significant differences in scores on the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.01), with more pronounced effects in the experimental group. Additionally, changes in SDS scores were correlated with changes in sit-and-reach distance (r = -0.657, p < 0.001), one-leg standing with eyes closed (r = -0.734, p < 0.001), and vital capacity (r = -0.490, p = 0.001). Changes in SAS scores were correlated with changes in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (r = -0.304, p = 0.048), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (r = -0.320, p = 0.037), sit-and-reach distance (r = -0.595, p < 0.001), one-leg standing with eyes closed (r = -0.704, p < 0.001), and vital capacity (r = -0.472, p = 0.001). The Pilates intervention significantly enhanced participants’ physical attributes—body composition, strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, lung function, and immune response—while alleviating anxiety and depression. Correlations were identified between mental health improvements and physical gains, indicating that tailored exercise, informed by ongoing health monitoring, could optimize drug rehabilitation outcomes. ChiCTR-IPR-2400087067, Registered on: 18/7/2024.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to identify gender-based differences of both overall Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and individual FMS components in male and female groups. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed across three major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) to ensure rigorous inclusion criteria. Data collection took place from 2016 to 2024, and 1,235 articles were identified. After scrutiny, 20 met the requirements for inclusion. The Review Manager 5.4 and CMAv4 software were utilized to examine the FMS score results to ensure rigorous statistical evaluation. Data were synthesized using a random-effect model, with the Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) used to calculate effect size. Results: The overall FMS score showed that the functional movement capacities of males and females differed; females performed higher (MD = −0.46, 95% CI = −0.83 to −0.08, P = 0.02) compared to males. A meta-analysis of 7 individual FMS components was conducted to assess the importance for both sexes. However, tests on specific areas showed significant gender differences: females outperformed males in shoulder mobility (p < 0.00001), active straight leg raise (p < 0.00001), hurdle step (p = 0.01), and rotary stability (p = 0.002). In contrast, males demonstrated significantly greater trunk stability (p < 0.0001) compared to females. Despite this, the in-line lunge (p = 0.42) and deep squat (p = 0.20) demonstrated no significant difference across gender. Conclusion: These outcomes highlight significant gender-based differences that can help identify weaknesses and strengths, which may assist coaches, trainers, and individuals in recommending gender-specific exercises and training programs. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=1043946 , identifier CRD420251043946.

Sexual selection has become an important research topic in behavioral ecology, human behavior, and evolution. The study of mate selection preferences across cultures and countries has gradually received increasing attention. The present study was aimed to reveal the differences of long-term and short-term mate selection preferences between young people in Chinese and South Korean. An questionnaire survey method was followed to obtain the aim of the study, and a total of 273 Chinese (M = 22.07, SD = 1.75) and 181 Koreans (M = 21.75, SD = 2.05) unmarried university students were chosen to participate the study. We summarized the important core factors of individual mate preferences and revealed the long-term and short-term mate preferences of young men and women in both countries through quantitative analysis. The results indicated that education played a crucial role in the long-term mate selection for both Chinese males and females. Contrastingly, Koreans valued friendliness and easygoingness in long-term mate value and liveliness in short-term mate value. There were differences found in mate preference by gender between Chinese and Koreans, influenced by cross-cultural factors. These findings strongly supported cultural differences in mate selection and provided practical suggestions for future cross-cultural mate selection research.

Objectives: Consumer satisfaction (CS) is a crucial indicator that influences sports brand marketing, yet research examining it from the perspective of consumer self-image congruence (SIC) remains limited. This study focuses on sports brands to explore the effects of brand image (BI) and product quality (PQ) on CS, while testing the mediating role of consumer SIC in the relationship between these factors and satisfaction. This work aims to provide empirical evidence for sports brands to enhance CS and refine brand strategies. Methods: Questionnaires distributed both online and offline with random sampling were used to collect data from 534 Chinese sports brand consumers. The measurement tools included the Consumer Satisfaction Scale, the Self-Image Congruence Scale, the Brand Image Scale, and the Product Quality Scale. Descriptive and correlation analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed using AMOS 24.0. Results: Significant positive correlations existed among BI, PQ, SIC, and CS ( p < 0.01), and model fit was satisfactory (CMIN/DF = 2.793, RMSEA = 0.058, CFI = 0.930, TLI = 0.922, IFI = 0.930). Path analysis further revealed that BI and PQ significantly and positively predicted SIC and CS, while SIC significantly and positively predicted CS (all paths p ≤ 0.001). Mediational analysis indicated that SIC partially mediated the BI→CS relationship (indirect effect = 0.141, 95% CI [0.082, 0.226], accounting for 44.90% of the total effect). Furthermore, SIC partially mediated the relationship between PQ and CS (indirect effect = 0.192, 95% CI [0.108, 0.300], accounting for 34.66% of the total effect). Conclusion: Both sports BI and PQ significantly enhance CS, with consumer SIC partially mediating the effects of BI and PQ on satisfaction. Therefore, sports brands should simultaneously focus on improving PQ and shaping BI that align with the self-image of target consumer groups to enhance satisfaction.