{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T18:00:38Z","timestamp":1781632838672,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781568000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":42,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Global partnership Joined PhD programme between La Trobe University"},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010035","name":"Sheffield Hallam University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010035","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>To increase global activity levels, the World Health Organization\u2019s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity includes the implementation of mass-participation, community events that provide an opportunity for individuals to be active in their local spaces. One such initiative is parkrun, with free, weekly 5-km run\/walk events worldwide and around 500 events with roughly 50 000 participants every Saturday morning in Australia. While women make up half of parkrun participation in Australia, they face different barriers than men to physical activity and have lower activity levels globally. With the aim of informing how community-based physical activity initiatives like parkrun could increase women\u2019s physical activity levels, 29 semistructured interviews were conducted with women aged between 35 and 54\u2005years old who have participated in parkrun. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four themes were developed based on elements that are important to women in their parkrun experience: (1) parkrun can be whatever you want it to be, (2) the parkrun experience is consistent, (3) parkrun creates connections, and (4) parkrun allows growth and change. Based on these themes, and with the context of health promotion theories, some elements that should be considered when aiming to create initiatives to increase women\u2019s activity levels through community events are to have an element of regularity and repetition; to allow for flexibility in attendance; and to create space for social engagement.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/heapro\/daag081","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,30]],"date-time":"2026-05-30T11:39:47Z","timestamp":1780141187000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring parkrun experiences of women aged 35 to 54 in Australia: a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"41","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-6286-9320","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Charlotte","family":"Benkowitz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University , Plenty Road, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria 3086 ,","place":["Australia"]},{"name":"School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University , Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield S9 3TU ,","place":["United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paul","family":"O\u2019Halloran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Sport and Social Impact, La Trobe University , Plenty Road, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria 3086 ,","place":["Australia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2716-4681","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Helen","family":"Quirk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield , Western Bank Villa, 300-302 Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN ,","place":["United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alice","family":"Bullas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University , Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield S9 3TU ,","place":["United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Steve","family":"Haake","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University , Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield S9 3TU ,","place":["United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1080\/00336297.2014.955118","article-title":"Socio-cultural barriers to attaining recommended levels of physical activity among females: a review of literature","volume":"66","author":"Abbasi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Quest"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B2","author":"Australian Bureau of Statistics"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B3","author":"Australian Bureau of Statistics"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B4","author":"Australian Government Department of Health","year":"2018"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B5","author":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1080\/03057640902902260","article-title":"Learning to be a critical friend: from professional indifference through challenge to unguarded conversations","volume":"39","author":"Baskerville","year":"2009","journal-title":"Camb J Educ"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(12)60735-1","article-title":"Correlates of physical activity: why are some people physically active and others not?","volume":"380","author":"Bauman","year":"2012","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1012690220942124","article-title":"From non-runner to parkrunner: subjective athletic identity and experience of parkrun","volume":"56","author":"Bowness","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int Rev Sociol Sport"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003051190-5","volume-title":"Family Events: Practices, Displays and Intimacies","author":"Bowness","year":"2022","edition":"1st edition"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-69909-7_3470-2","volume-title":"Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide","author":"Braun","year":"2022"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/heapro\/daae049","article-title":"A critical review of the reporting of reflexive thematic analysis in health promotion international","volume":"39","author":"Braun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Promot Int"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"608","DOI":"10.1177\/02692163241234800","article-title":"Supporting best practice in reflexive thematic analysis reporting in palliative medicine: a review of published research and introduction to the reflexive thematic analysis reporting guidelines (RTARG)","volume":"38","author":"Braun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Palliat Med"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674028845","volume-title":"The Ecology of Human Development","author":"Bronfenbrenner","year":"1979"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B14","author":"Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1177\/0890117118770106","article-title":"Exploring the health-promoting potential of the \u2018parkrun\u2019 phenomenon: what factors are associated with higher levels of participation?","volume":"33","author":"Cleland","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am J Health Promot"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B16","first-page":"49","article-title":"Through the Lens of a critical friend","volume":"51","author":"Costa","year":"1993","journal-title":"Educ Leadersh"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/10497323241307202","article-title":"\u201cWe want parkrun to well outlive US\u201d: behind the dissemination and sustainability of parkrun in Australia","volume":"35","author":"Cranney","year":"2025","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.7748\/nr2005.07.13.1.19.c5997","article-title":"A reflection on the use of semi-structured interviews","volume":"13","author":"Dearnley","year":"2005","journal-title":"Nurse Res"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2024-002369","article-title":"From insight to action: a qualitative study of the postpartum return to recreational exercise and sport in Ireland and the UK","volume":"11","author":"Deery","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/heapro\/daae045","article-title":"My parkrun friends.\u2019 A qualitative study of social experiences of men at parkrun in Ireland","volume":"39","author":"Dunne","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Promot Int"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.4137\/CMWH.S34668","article-title":"Psychosocial variables related to why women are less active than men and related health implications","volume":"9","author":"Edwards","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin Med Insights Women\u2019s Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"626750","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.626750","article-title":"A systematic review examining the relationship between habit and physical activity behavior in longitudinal studies","volume":"12","author":"Feil","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","author":"Forster","year":"2020","DOI":"10.31234\/osf.io\/dkce2"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3602","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20043602","article-title":"New parkrunners are slower and the attendance gender gap narrowing making parkrun more inclusive","volume":"20","author":"Gilburn","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ogc.2011.05.002","article-title":"The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs","volume":"38","author":"Gold","year":"2011","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0234794","article-title":"The impact of life events and transitions on physical activity: a scoping review","volume":"15","author":"Gropper","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101231","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmedr.2020.101231","article-title":"Evidence on the reach and impact of the social physical activity phenomenon parkrun: a scoping review","volume":"20","author":"Grunseit","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prev Med Rep"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1077","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(18)30357-7","article-title":"Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1\u00b79 million participants","volume":"6","author":"Guthold","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0000138","article-title":"The health benefits of volunteering at a free, weekly, 5\u2005km event in the UK: a cross-sectional study of volunteers at parkrun","volume":"2","author":"Haake","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLOS Glob Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"313","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.93.2.313","article-title":"A synthesis of perceptions about physical activity among older African American and American Indian women","volume":"93","author":"Henderson","year":"2003","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400.2017.1410741","article-title":"More than just a run in the park\u201d: an exploration of parkrun as a shared leisure space","volume":"42","author":"Hindley","year":"2020","journal-title":"Leis Sci"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-008043972-3\/50022-0","volume-title":"The Real Life Guide to Accounting Research","author":"Horton","year":"2004"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2020-103640","article-title":"Physical inactivity and non-communicable disease burden in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries","volume":"56","author":"Katzmarzyk","year":"2022","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1080\/01490400.2010.488603","article-title":"Self-determination theory as a framework for understanding women\u2019s psychological well-being outcomes from leisure-time physical activity","volume":"32","author":"Lloyd","year":"2010","journal-title":"Leis Sci"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1753","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732315617444","article-title":"Sample size in qualitative interview studies: guided by information power","volume":"26","author":"Malterud","year":"2016","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1098","DOI":"10.1093\/tbm\/ibz198","article-title":"A systematic review of physical activity and quality of life and well-being","volume":"10","author":"Marquez","year":"2020","journal-title":"Transl Behav Med"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6874-14-49","article-title":"Factors influencing adherence to regular exercise in middle-aged women: a qualitative study to inform clinical practice","volume":"14","author":"McArthur","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMC Women\u2019s Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"529","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.93.4.529","article-title":"Community-based interventions","volume":"93","author":"McLeroy","year":"2003","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-6-42","article-title":"The behaviour change wheel: a new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions","volume":"6","author":"Michie","year":"2011","journal-title":"Implement Sci"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1080\/18387357.2018.1509011","article-title":"Not just a run in the park: a qualitative exploration of parkrun and mental health","volume":"17","author":"Morris","year":"2019","journal-title":"Adv Ment Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-023-01411-7","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators to physical activity for young adult women: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature","volume":"20","author":"Peng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1486","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2022.2086522","article-title":"Outcomes of participation in parkrun, and factors influencing why and how often individuals participate: a systematic review of quantitative studies","volume":"40","author":"Peterson","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1186\/s13102-019-0136-6","article-title":"How can we get more people with long-term health conditions involved in parkrun? A qualitative study evaluating parkrun\u2019s PROVE project","volume":"11","author":"Quirk","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"813","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-13-813","article-title":"Long-term health benefits of physical activity\u2014a systematic review of longitudinal studies","volume":"13","author":"Reiner","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1223919","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1223919","article-title":"Understanding physical activity from a cultural-contextual lens","volume":"11","author":"Rio","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1123\/wspaj.2015-0013","article-title":"Concerns for personal safety among female recreational runners","volume":"24","author":"Roper","year":"2016","journal-title":"Women Sport Phys Act J"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1037\/\/0003-066x.55.1.68","article-title":"Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being","volume":"55","author":"Ryan","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am Psychol"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B48","first-page":"43","volume-title":"Health Behavior and Health Education Theory, Research, and Practice","author":"Sallis","year":"2015","edition":"5th edition"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e32","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(22)00464-8","article-title":"The cost of inaction on physical inactivity to public health-care systems: a population-attributable fraction analysis","volume":"11","author":"Santos","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"445","DOI":"10.1080\/09638230500270776","article-title":"Mental health benefits of physical activity","volume":"14","author":"Saxena","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Ment Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1002\/hpja.182","article-title":"Health and broader community benefit of parkrun\u2014an exploratory qualitative study","volume":"30","author":"Sharman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Health Promot J Austr"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102626","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2021.102626","article-title":"Socioeconomic inequalities in distance to and participation in a community-based running and walking activity: a longitudinal ecological study of parkrun 2010 to 2019","volume":"71","author":"Smith","year":"2021","journal-title":"Health Place"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2018.1489360","article-title":"Social identification, exercise participation, and positive exercise experiences: evidence from parkrun","volume":"37","author":"Stevens","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1093\/pubmed\/fdy178","article-title":"Changes in physical activity, weight and wellbeing outcomes among attendees of a weekly mass participation event: a prospective 12-month study","volume":"41","author":"Stevinson","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Public Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1007\/s12529-014-9431-5","article-title":"Facilitating participation in health-enhancing physical activity: a qualitative study of parkrun","volume":"22","author":"Stevinson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Behav Med"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B56","author":"Turne"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1097\/HCO.0000000000000437","article-title":"Health benefits of physical activity: a systematic review of current systematic reviews","volume":"32","author":"Warburton","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr Opin Cardiol"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"458","DOI":"10.1111\/phn.13295","article-title":"Nurse facilitated 5000\u2005m running at parkrun improves vulnerable adolescent health in a high deprivation area: a matched pair randomized control trial","volume":"41","author":"Williams","year":"2024","journal-title":"Public Health Nurs"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2017.1376347","article-title":"Exploring the role of social capital in community-based physical activity: qualitative insights from parkrun","volume":"10","author":"Wiltshire","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B60","author":"Women and Equalities Committee","year":"2024"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B61","volume-title":"Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013\u20132020","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2013"},{"key":"2026061613461061000_daag081-B62","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2022"}],"container-title":["Health Promotion International"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/heapro\/article-pdf\/41\/3\/daag081\/68535971\/daag081.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/heapro\/article-pdf\/41\/3\/daag081\/68535971\/daag081.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,16]],"date-time":"2026-06-16T17:46:20Z","timestamp":1781631980000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/heapro\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/heapro\/daag081\/8709106"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/heapro\/daag081","relation":{},"ISSN":["0957-4824","1460-2245"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0957-4824","type":"print"},{"value":"1460-2245","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]},"article-number":"daag081"}}