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Communal therapeutic mobility in group walking: A meta-ethnography.

Social science & medicine (1982)
October 1, 2020
Tessa M Pollard et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to synthesize qualitative research on experiences and perceptions of group walking to develop a new conceptual understanding of the group walking experience.

Results Summary

The study found that group walking provides health and fitness benefits, fosters social connections, and transforms into a meaningful communal practice, though accessibility varies. Participants reported improved wellbeing, purpose, and confidence through shared walking experiences.

Population

Walking groups in the UK, USA, Australia, and Ireland, including some for people with shared disease experiences or disabilities.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
walking group interventions
increase
physical activity
-
-
are known to increase
#1
walking group interventions
increase
health
-
-
to have wide-ranging health benefits
#2
walking group interventions
decrease
drop out
-
-
drop out is generally low
#3
Abstract

Increased attention to links between walking, health and wellbeing have contributed to a growth in the number of walking groups meeting on a regular basis to offer short, social walks. Walking group interventions are known to increase physical activity and to have wide-ranging health benefits, and there is evidence that drop out is generally low. The aim of this paper is to synthesise qualitative research on experiences and perceptions of group walking in order to develop a new conceptual understanding of the group walking experience. We conducted a systematic search of the literature and identified 22 such studies which we synthesised using meta-ethnography. Included studies were conducted in the UK, USA, Australia and Ireland. Most reported research was undertaken with outdoor walking groups, some of which catered specifically for people who shared a disease experience or a disability. A smaller number of studies examined indoor mall walking groups, while two looked at perceptions of non-participants of group walking as a potential activity. From the original constructs identified in the papers we derived five higher order constructs: seeking and enjoying health and fitness, attachment to walking, providing purpose and confidence, mobile companionship and a peaceful and contemplative shared respite from everyday life. We argue that participating in a walking group provides a set of experiences that together constitute a specific form of shared or communal therapeutic mobility that is not simply the accumulation of the constructs we have outlined. Rather, we suggest that an initial instrumental and disciplinary focus on health and fitness is transformed through the experience of group walking into a shared meaningful and enjoyable practice; an emergent communal therapeutic mobility, which recruits and retains large numbers of group walkers. However, this communal therapeutic mobility is not equally accessible to all.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Anthropology, CulturalAustraliaHumansIrelandQualitative ResearchWalking
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety90
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations7
Citations/Year1.4
Relative Citation Ratio0.77
NIH Percentile40.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score2.25
Normalized Score0.86
Related Supplements
Communal therapeutic mobility in group walking: A meta-ethno... | Panacea Index