Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants

Abstract Background Whilst the benefits of physical activity for health and wellbeing are recognised, population levels of activity remain low. Significant inequalities exist, with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations being less physically active and less likely to participate in community ev...

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Autores principales:	Helen Quirk, Alice Bullas, Steve Haake, Elizabeth Goyder, Mike Graney, Chrissie Wellington, Robert Copeland, Lindsey Reece, Clare Stevinson
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Cross-sectional study Inequalities Deprivation Physical activity Community event Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/d65affb308e84801b094b9e9c161dd45
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:d65affb308e84801b094b9e9c161dd452021-11-08T10:43:39ZExploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants10.1186/s12889-021-11986-01471-2458https://doaj.org/article/d65affb308e84801b094b9e9c161dd452021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11986-0https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2458Abstract Background Whilst the benefits of physical activity for health and wellbeing are recognised, population levels of activity remain low. Significant inequalities exist, with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations being less physically active and less likely to participate in community events. We investigated the perceived benefits from participation in a weekly running/walking event called parkrun by those living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas and doing the least physical activity. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was emailed to 2,318,135 parkrun participants in the UK. Demographic and self-reported data was collected on life satisfaction, happiness, health status, physical activity, motives, and the perceived benefits of parkrun. Motivation, health status and benefits were compared for sub-groups defined by physical activity level at parkrun registration and residential Index of Multiple Deprivation. Results 60,000 completed surveys were received (2.7% of those contacted). Respondents were more recently registered with parkrun (3.1 v. 3.5 years) than the parkrun population and had a higher frequency of parkrun participation (14.5 v. 3.7 parkruns per year). Those inactive at registration and from deprived areas reported lower happiness, lower life satisfaction and poorer health compared to the full sample. They were more likely to want to improve their physical health, rather than get fit or for competition. Of those reporting less than one bout of activity per week at registration, 88% (87% in the most deprived areas) increased their physical activity level and 52% (65% in the most deprived areas) reported improvements to overall health behaviours. When compared to the full sample, a greater proportion of previously inactive respondents from the most deprived areas reported improvements to fitness (92% v. 89%), physical health (90% v. 85%), happiness (84% v. 79%) and mental health (76% v. 69%). Conclusion The least active respondents from the most socioeconomically deprived areas reported increases to their activity levels and benefits to health and wellbeing since participating in parkrun. Whilst the challenge of identifying how community initiatives like parkrun can better engage with underrepresented populations remains, if this can be achieved they could have a critical public health role in addressing inequalities in benefits associated with recreational physical activity.Helen QuirkAlice BullasSteve HaakeElizabeth GoyderMike GraneyChrissie WellingtonRobert CopelandLindsey ReeceClare StevinsonBMCarticleCross-sectional studyInequalitiesDeprivationPhysical activityCommunity eventPublic aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENBMC Public Health, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Cross-sectional study Inequalities Deprivation Physical activity Community event Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	Cross-sectional study Inequalities Deprivation Physical activity Community event Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Helen Quirk Alice Bullas Steve Haake Elizabeth Goyder Mike Graney Chrissie Wellington Robert Copeland Lindsey Reece Clare Stevinson Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
description	Abstract Background Whilst the benefits of physical activity for health and wellbeing are recognised, population levels of activity remain low. Significant inequalities exist, with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations being less physically active and less likely to participate in community events. We investigated the perceived benefits from participation in a weekly running/walking event called parkrun by those living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas and doing the least physical activity. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was emailed to 2,318,135 parkrun participants in the UK. Demographic and self-reported data was collected on life satisfaction, happiness, health status, physical activity, motives, and the perceived benefits of parkrun. Motivation, health status and benefits were compared for sub-groups defined by physical activity level at parkrun registration and residential Index of Multiple Deprivation. Results 60,000 completed surveys were received (2.7% of those contacted). Respondents were more recently registered with parkrun (3.1 v. 3.5 years) than the parkrun population and had a higher frequency of parkrun participation (14.5 v. 3.7 parkruns per year). Those inactive at registration and from deprived areas reported lower happiness, lower life satisfaction and poorer health compared to the full sample. They were more likely to want to improve their physical health, rather than get fit or for competition. Of those reporting less than one bout of activity per week at registration, 88% (87% in the most deprived areas) increased their physical activity level and 52% (65% in the most deprived areas) reported improvements to overall health behaviours. When compared to the full sample, a greater proportion of previously inactive respondents from the most deprived areas reported improvements to fitness (92% v. 89%), physical health (90% v. 85%), happiness (84% v. 79%) and mental health (76% v. 69%). Conclusion The least active respondents from the most socioeconomically deprived areas reported increases to their activity levels and benefits to health and wellbeing since participating in parkrun. Whilst the challenge of identifying how community initiatives like parkrun can better engage with underrepresented populations remains, if this can be achieved they could have a critical public health role in addressing inequalities in benefits associated with recreational physical activity.
format	article
author	Helen Quirk Alice Bullas Steve Haake Elizabeth Goyder Mike Graney Chrissie Wellington Robert Copeland Lindsey Reece Clare Stevinson
author_facet	Helen Quirk Alice Bullas Steve Haake Elizabeth Goyder Mike Graney Chrissie Wellington Robert Copeland Lindsey Reece Clare Stevinson
author_sort	Helen Quirk
title	Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
title_short	Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
title_full	Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
title_fullStr	Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
title_full_unstemmed	Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
title_sort	exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/d65affb308e84801b094b9e9c161dd45
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Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants

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