"My Health Finds Meaning Through Pilates": Understanding Serious Leisure Pilates Practice From the Perspective of the Health Belief Model

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 515 - 542, 26.12.2025

Begüm Yaşar Sönmez , Cemal Yalçın

https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1736176

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to explore the practice of Pilates as a form of serious leisure through the lens of the Health Belief Model (HBM), offering an in-depth examination of individuals' experiences from physical, psychological, and social perspectives. The research employed a phenomenological design to uncover the meanings derived from participants' experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven female and three male participants, all of whom regularly practice Pilates and were selected through criterion sampling. The interviews, averaging 22 minutes in length, were analyzed using content analysis and structured around four main themes. These themes align with the core components of the HBM and demonstrate the multidimensional nature of maintaining exercise behaviors. Findings indicate that Pilates supports not only physical health but also psychological and social well-being, contributing to the transformation of exercise into a sustainable lifestyle practice. The study highlights the explanatory power of the HBM within the context of serious leisure activities. It suggests that health behaviors are shaped not only by rational evaluations but also by personal experiences and social contexts. Accordingly, the research offers both theoretical and practical insights for the development of future health interventions based on physical activity, emphasizing a holistic and contextualized perspective.

Keywords

Health belief model , Pilates , Serious leisure

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