‘Makes me Feel Alive!’: Perceptions and Experiences of Walking Sports Participation in Australia Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Abstract

Improving the number of years lived in good health is an international priority. Walking sports offer an opportunity for adults of all ages and abilities to engage in physical activity. However, research on walking sport participation is limited. We aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of walking sport participants using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). This qualitative study used a descriptive phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adults (mean age 62.9) participating in walking sports programmes in Australia. Interviews were coded and themed using thematic analysis and mapped to the TPB. Five themes pertaining to experiences and perceptions of walking sports were identified: (1) advantages of walking sports, (2) disadvantages of walking sports, (3) perceived social norms surrounding walking sports, (4) facilitators of walking sports participation and (5) barriers to walking sports participation. This study has important implications for strengthening current walking sports offerings to support engagement in such offerings and optimise population-level health outcomes.