Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of parkrun participants in the United Kingdom

Abstract IntroductionLockdown restrictions imposed across the UK in response to the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on many people’s health and wellbeing. People were encouraged to be active, but population surveys suggest some groups found this easier than others. We explored the changes in health, wellbeing and physical activity levels among a sample in the UK who experienced the sudden loss of a weekly community-based physical activity opportunity, parkrun.MethodsA sample of UK parkrun participants responded to two surveys; pre-COVID-19 in January/February 2019 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020. Outcomes were happiness, life satisfaction, connections with others, physical health, mental health and physical activity. The sample was stratified by gender, age, deprivation status, physical activity and number of parkruns completed. Demographics were reported using descriptive statistics. Distributions between sub-groups were compared using Chi-square tests while differences in outcomes were determined using the Mann-Whitney U test. Open text responses were also analysed. FindingsHappiness, life satisfaction, connections with others, physical health and mental health of 450 parkrun participants were negatively impacted for all sub-groups, although the impact was not experienced equally. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental wellbeing of a greater proportion of females, younger adults, inactive people, those from higher deprivation areas, and those who had completed fewer parkruns.ConclusionsThere is evidence that the wellbeing of those who were more active, and those more involved in a community-based physical activity initiative pre-pandemic, was less negatively affected during the COVID-19 lockdown.