Job satisfaction and turnover of aerobic dance instructors in health promotion programming

The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between turnover and levels of job satisfaction of aerobic dance instructors in the health/fitness industry. A 20-question survey was distributed to 332 aerobic instructors in the Washington, D.C. area. A response rate of 56% was achieved. It was found that aerobic dance instructors turnover every 1.25 years, which is 4.6 times more frequent that the national average. The level of job satisfaction was significantly related to job adherence, salary and benefits, and professional status; however, job satisfaction was not found to be related to injuries impairing instructors' ability to teach. Retention of aerobic dance instructors, with a resulting reduction in operational expenses and possible increased participant adherence, may be possible if proper attention is paid to these and other critical factors.