The opportunities and challenges of participatory systems mapping for physical activity promotion

Encouraging leisure-time physical activity has proved to be a hard-to-solve complex problem. Underpinning this complexity is the range of determinants of sedentary behaviour. We report on a participatory actor mapping exercise which sought to understand the people and organisations in the local system in which a novel exercise referral scheme in a suburban/semi-rural region of England has been introduced.

The participatory actor mapping exercise was conducted in two phases in September 2023. The first phase generated a draft actor map visually illustrating the key organisations and individuals (actors) that make up the local physical activity promotion system. The map was aligned to a socio-ecological model in which actors were positioned within a category of determinants. In the second phase, the draft actor map was refined during two workshops with participants (n = 30) representing the key local organisations who sought to promote physical activity.

The process of mapping revealed several factors influencing physical activity promotion: (1) differing views on the determinants of physical inactivity, and hence, a hesitancy towards addressing sedentary behaviour through a strategic systems approach; (2) an emerging system of actors with interdependent roles which sometimes act independently; (3) local commitment to encouraging increased leisure time activity but supported via a generalised approach to physical activity promotion; and (4) a peripheral role of the studied exercise referral scheme in the system for local physical activity provisions.

The process of a participatory approach to actor mapping highlighted both opportunities and challenges for physical activity promotion. Although there were challenges around differing actors' perspectives on sedentary behaviour and a lack of connection between actors, opportunities included an improved shared understanding of the complex issues of physical inactivity, and actor mapping provided a useful step towards adopting a systems approach with a common vision.