An Evaluation of Factors Influencing Walking Group Participation

Abstract

Walking groups are numerous and historic in England, some are for profit and others of the not-for-profit variety. Walking groups are often derived at the grass roots level, constructed locally or nationally to meet needs identified by the organisers. Walking provides cardiovascular benefit and weight management, is associated with little injury, is low cost, and doesn’t require a high skill level or specialist equipment. Group walking provides a structured, regular form of physical activity with others’ company. It therefore provides social benefit and, as a result, could provide mental benefits in addition to walking in natural landscapes. Not everyone has access to natural landscapes however, and some may not value such landscapes. With the obesity, mental health, social isolation, and inequalities dilemma facing the UK, walking groups could provide an invaluable platform for participants to improve their physical, mental, and social health from engaging in an activity that they enjoy. This contrasts with government-driven top-down approaches. This thesis explores influences of organisational, landscape, physical health, mental health, and social capital factors on motivations to join, remain in, and leave walking groups. Three data collection phases were used in this multidisciplinary and exploratory mixed methods research. First, walking group data were collected from online sources and cluster analysis was performed to create a walking group typology. Second, an online questionnaire was used with a case study and structural equation modelling [SEM] was performed to evaluate the relationships between variables. Great variance indicated that participants’ responses varied. Cluster analysis was therefore performed, leading to the creation of a typology of walking group participant motivation. Finally, interviews were undertaken with a sample of participants. Both the walking group typology and participant interviews revealed social capital to be the most complex variable to influence motivation. The walking group participant motivation typology meanwhile revealed that physical health was the most influential motivator for joining, remaining and leaving motivation, with landscape factors coming in second, and social capital factors third.