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An exploration of walking behaviour--An interpretative phenomenological approach

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  • Darker, Catherine D.
  • Larkin, Michael
  • French, David P.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide a rich and detailed account of participants' experiences of walking using the qualitative method of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants were a snowball sample of 10 members of the UK general public, aged 25-35 years, with equal numbers of males and females. Participants reported walking as not being "proper" exercise, and that it is not a goal in itself. Factors that participants cited as making walking easier included the functionality of walking for transport, contextual factors of social support and psychological benefits. Perceived lack of time was cited as an inhibitory barrier to walking. Participants' perceptions of walking were incongruent with current health promotion campaigns. There is a need to address the misconception that walking is not proper exercise. The traditional focus of walking promotion campaigns concerns beliefs about the benefits of walking on health. People engage in healthy behaviour for reasons other than to be healthy. Interventions to promote walking should consider targeting the psychological meaning and value of walking, in addition to beliefs about health.

Suggested Citation

  • Darker, Catherine D. & Larkin, Michael & French, David P., 2007. "An exploration of walking behaviour--An interpretative phenomenological approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(10), pages 2172-2183, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:65:y:2007:i:10:p:2172-2183
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guibo Sun & Ransford A. Acheampong & Hui Lin & Vivian C. Pun, 2015. "Understanding Walking Behavior among University Students Using Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Annelise Norlyk & Bente Martinsen & Elisabeth Hall & Anita Haahr, 2016. "Being In-Between," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(3), pages 21582440166, September.
    3. Lyons, Glenn, 2020. "Walking as a service – Does it have legs?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 271-284.
    4. Sara Dadpour & Jahanshah Pakzad & Hamidreza Khankeh, 2016. "Understanding the Influence of Environment on Adults’ Walking Experiences: A Meta-Synthesis Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Ralf Risser & Matus Sucha, 2020. "Start Walking! How to Boost Sustainable Mode Choice—Psychological Measures to Support a Shift from Individual Car Use to More Sustainable Traffic Modes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Hoback, Alan & Anderson, Scott & Dutta, Utpal, 2012. "Health effects of walking to transit," 53rd Annual Transportation Research Forum, Tampa, Florida, March 15-17, 2012 207081, Transportation Research Forum.
    7. Ayse Ozbil & Tugce Gurleyen & Demet Yesiltepe & Ezgi Zunbuloglu, 2019. "Comparative Associations of Street Network Design, Streetscape Attributes and Land-Use Characteristics on Pedestrian Flows in Peripheral Neighbourhoods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-23, May.

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    UK Walking Public health Exercise;

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