Physical activity in different natural environments: Motivations, perceptions and wellbeing benefits

Project details

Full project title:  Physical activity in different natural environments: Motivations, perceptions and wellbeing benefits

Duration: 1 August 2020-31 July 2021

Funder: UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher Development Award

Project Leader for SPE: Dr Helen Hoyle

Research partners/collaborators:

• Sheffield Hallam University Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre parkrun Research Board
• parkrun Global
• Stevenage parkrun
• Fellfoot parkrun
• Barking parkrun

Project summary

The aim of this project is to explore the motivations for, and perceived physical and psychological wellbeing benefits of participating in physical activity (walking and running) in different natural environments, and in different socio-cultural groups. 

Research questions:

1. What are the dominant motivating factors for physical activity in natural environments?
2. What are the perceived physical and psychological wellbeing benefits of physical activity in natural environments?
3. How do these motivating factors and perceived benefits vary between different natural environments at different scales?
4. Are motivating factors and perceived benefits related to socio-cultural characteristics such as age, socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity and nature-connectedness? 
5. Specifically, what are the motivations and perceived physical and psychological wellbeing benefits for younger people, and those living in more deprived areas?
6. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the dominant motivating factors and perceived physical and psychological wellbeing benefits of physical activity in natural environments?