Community-based initiatives and mental wellbeing: a mixed methods study of parkrun

Community-based initiatives, combining a purposeful activity with social connection, are a health promotion intervention for people at risk of poor mental wellbeing. Evidence from the weekly community initiative parkrun has indicated that participation may have mental wellbeing benefits but the factors influencing this effect are unknown. This programme of research aimed to explore these factors using a mixed-methods approach. Study One was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey of 4,304 parkrun participants in Ireland. The findings revealed that participants aged over 45 years reported higher-than-expected mental wellbeing scores and were more sociable than younger parkrun participants. These results, along with extant literature, suggested that middle-aged men who participate in parkrun are a population which merited further investigation. Study Two employed a qualitative approach to explore mental wellbeing and social experiences of middle-aged men who attend parkrun in Ireland. Online, semi-structured interviews were completed with 39 men aged 45-64 years. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in themes describing parkrun events as a supportive environment for mental wellbeing, with a choice of social connection which developed over time. Study Three used interview data from Study Two to develop personas representing the social goals of middle-aged men who attend parkrun in Ireland. The personas, along with consultation with key stakeholders, were used to develop policy and practice recommendations. The significant original contribution to knowledge in this thesis is that participation in parkrun can support mental wellbeing, through social experiences, for middle-aged men in Ireland. The findings showed that parkrun is a place where members of the community can make social connections. For middle-aged men in Ireland these connections can support mental wellbeing. The research provides insights which can be used to inform health promotion policy and practice for parkrun and similar community initiatives.