Many individuals enlist a personal trainer to help with exercise behaviors, such as planning workouts and adapting exercise programs (ACSM, 2013). Throughout the course of a relationship with a trainer, a client develops beliefs (i.e., proxy efficacy) about his or her trainer’s ability to help with these behaviors. Proxy efficacy has been linked to positive exercise outcomes (e.g., adherence, exercise intentions, and self-efficacy beliefs; Bray et al., 2001; Bray & Cowan, 2004). However, one negative outcome of proxy efficacy is the potential to become over-reliant, as exercisers may become dependent on the proxy (Shields & Brawley, 2007). As research on proxy efficacy is fairly new, there are other constructs important to a training relationship that may influence proxy efficacy and exercise outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to extend research on proxy efficacy and a) examine characteristics of client-trainer relationships and b) test a model of interpersonal variables to determine relationships between proxy efficacy, perceived control, trust, goal progress, commitment, and reliance. A convenience sample of 402 exercisers (Mage = 43.47) currently working with a trainer completed an online survey. Exploratory analyses indicated that clients had a variety of goals, including getting stronger (74.9%), maintaining health (74.4%), and losing body fat (66.9%). ANOVAs were conducted to examine differences for client perceptions of individual control, trainer control, and communication based on age, gender, SES, and relationship length. Groups with the highest perceptions of individual control included adults ages 50 to 69, and those with higher SES. Groups with highest perceptions of trainer control included men with male trainers, and clients who have been with a trainer for less than 1 month. There were no group differences for communication frequency, but clients with weight management goals communicated more often with trainers about nutrition than those with health or general ability goals.For commitment, progress, and reliance, structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect effects of proxy efficacy on outcomes through control and trust. Proxy efficacy for in-session exercise and trust predicted relationship commitment, and proxy efficacy for goal achievement predicted progress toward goals. Trust mediated the relationship between proxy efficacy for in-session exercise and commitment, and progress toward goals mediated the relationship between proxy efficacy for goal achievement and commitment. For reliance on a trainer for exercise, both individual control and proxy efficacy for self-regulatory exercise had direct negative effects, and proxy efficacy for in-session exercise had a direct positive effect. Individual control also had a negative effect on reliance for nutrition, whereas trainer control had a positive effect. Individual control mediated the relationships between proxy efficacy for goal achievement, proxy efficacy for in-session exercise, and proxy efficacy for self-regulatory exercise on reliance for exercise and nutrition. Trainer control also mediated the relationship between proxy efficacy for self-regulatory nutrition and reliance. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine factors that predict friendship. Communication frequency, trust, and being a female client with a female trainer all predicted friendship.Results indicate that proxy efficacy beliefs can contribute to positive outcomes of commitment and trust, but they can also contribute to reliance on a trainer for both exercise and nutrition. However, trainers can attempt to prevent over-reliance on the trainer by fostering a client’s perceptions of individual control over the client’s nutrition and exercise behaviors, as there is evidence that perceived individual control may protective against reliance on a trainer.
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