Social networks in parkrun: a comparative analysis of an urban and a rural event

Social isolation is an impactful but often hidden problem globally and is especially common among younger (<30 years) and older (>60 years) people. Australian data shows a lack of community engagement as the strongest risk factor for social isolation. A world first study led by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney and University of Sydney and published in the Journal of Public Health, points to the potential of parkrun to build social connection.

This study captured participants’ social ties at two recently launched parkruns (one urban one rural) over 12 months. They asked them on three separate occasions who they knew at this parkrun, whether they knew them before attending that parkrun, and how well they knew them. They matched this information with their parkrun data.

The researchers found that people at both parkruns became more interconnected over time, but especially at the rural parkrun. People became friends with each other and also became friends with their friend’s friends – exactly how “social networks” are formed. Volunteering at parkrun was found to be particularly beneficial for forming social connections.