Patterns and Correlates of Participation in a Weekly Mass Participation Physical Activity Event, parkrun, in Australia, 2011-2020.

Grunseit, AC; Huang, B-H; Merom, D; Bauman, A; Cranney, L; Rogers, K

Patterns and Correlates of Participation in a Weekly Mass Participation Physical Activity Event, parkrun, in Australia, 2011-2020.

Grunseit, AC Huang, B-H Merom, D Bauman, A Cranney, L

Rogers, K

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Publisher:: Human Kinetics
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: J Phys Act Health, 2023, pp. 1-9
Issue Date:: 2023-12-21

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Grunseit, AC
dc.contributor.author	Huang, B-H
dc.contributor.author	Merom, D
dc.contributor.author	Bauman, A
dc.contributor.author	Cranney, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9441-5703
dc.contributor.author	Rogers, K https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5497-4298
dc.date.accessioned	2024-01-09T05:37:42Z
dc.date.available	2023-10-23
dc.date.available	2024-01-09T05:37:42Z
dc.date.issued	2023-12-21
dc.identifier.citation	J Phys Act Health, 2023, pp. 1-9
dc.identifier.issn	1543-3080
dc.identifier.issn	1543-5474
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174151
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Studying effective interventions already operating at scale is critical to improving physical activity intervention research translation. The free, weekly, timed 5-km run or walk parkrun represents a unique opportunity to examine successful organic dissemination. We conducted an ecological analysis to identify patterns of growth in Australian parkrun participation and their correlates from 2011 to 2020. METHOD: Outcome variables were (1) weekly counts of walkers/runners and (2) monthly number of new parkrun registrants. We used latent class analysis to characterize growth trajectories followed by logistic regression on class membership. Covariates included parkrun course characteristics (eg, surface type and route), site-level aggregate participant profile (eg, proportion women and mean age), and surrounding area characteristics (eg, population density and physical activity norm). RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-three parkruns were included (n = 8,388,695 participation instances). Sixty-nine percent followed a low-growth and 31% a high-growth participation pattern. High growth was associated with greater participation by women, concrete/bitumen surface type, lower area socioeconomic status, and greater volunteer heterogeneity. Odds of being in the slow-growth class were higher if the course contained >1 km of repetition, higher average age of participants, better average parkrun performance, and higher running group membership. Two patterns of new registration were identified: high start followed by steep decline; and low start, slow decline with similar correlates to participation. CONCLUSIONS: Parkruns with a less competitive social milieu may have more rapid dissemination. As a free and regular event, parkruns in low socioeconomic areas have the potential to improve the activity levels of those with fewer resources.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Human Kinetics
dc.relation.ispartof	J Phys Act Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1123/jpah.2023-0532
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2023 : 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0532.©Human Kinetics, Inc.
dc.subject	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy
dc.subject.classification	Public Health
dc.subject.classification	4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
dc.subject.classification	4206 Public health
dc.subject.classification	4207 Sports science and exercise
dc.title	Patterns and Correlates of Participation in a Weekly Mass Participation Physical Activity Event, parkrun, in Australia, 2011-2020.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-01-09T05:37:41Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studying effective interventions already operating at scale is critical to improving physical activity intervention research translation. The free, weekly, timed 5-km run or walk parkrun represents a unique opportunity to examine successful organic dissemination. We conducted an ecological analysis to identify patterns of growth in Australian parkrun participation and their correlates from 2011 to 2020. METHOD: Outcome variables were (1) weekly counts of walkers/runners and (2) monthly number of new parkrun registrants. We used latent class analysis to characterize growth trajectories followed by logistic regression on class membership. Covariates included parkrun course characteristics (eg, surface type and route), site-level aggregate participant profile (eg, proportion women and mean age), and surrounding area characteristics (eg, population density and physical activity norm). RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-three parkruns were included (n = 8,388,695 participation instances). Sixty-nine percent followed a low-growth and 31% a high-growth participation pattern. High growth was associated with greater participation by women, concrete/bitumen surface type, lower area socioeconomic status, and greater volunteer heterogeneity. Odds of being in the slow-growth class were higher if the course contained >1 km of repetition, higher average age of participants, better average parkrun performance, and higher running group membership. Two patterns of new registration were identified: high start followed by steep decline; and low start, slow decline with similar correlates to participation. CONCLUSIONS: Parkruns with a less competitive social milieu may have more rapid dissemination. As a free and regular event, parkruns in low socioeconomic areas have the potential to improve the activity levels of those with fewer resources.

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