Motivation for engagement in a Māori- and Pacific-driven exercise programme in New Zealand: a community-based system...

Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM) is a community-based, Māori- and Pacific-led organisation providing free exercise classes and other support services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ongoing participant engagement is critical for the success of community lifestyle programmes.

This study aimed to co-develop a systems logic model (Causal Loop Diagram) of the drivers of long-term engagement in BBM classes and activities.

Two cognitive mapping interviews and three group model-building workshops with BBM participants were used to create a CLD of the motivations and dynamics of engagement with BBM.

The foundations of Māori and Pacific cultures underpinned the four domains, and 19 feedback loops created the motivations for ongoing engagement. Within the organisational design domain, BMM culture, leadership, and lived experiences were prominent. In the social network domain, social media, storytelling, and mutual accountability maintained high connectivity. Engagement with other BBM activities reinforced the community support domain. Within the health domain, positive reinforcement from improved mental health was more prominent than from weight loss.

This systems analysis of participant motivations to continued engagement with exercise classes shows how Māori and Pacific cultural values and ways of engaging have been incorporated into BBM to build ongoing participation and, thus, potential positive health outcomes. The multiple feedback loops provide further opportunities to refine the programme. The study also demonstrates the value of systems thinking for complex health challenges such as sustained weight loss. With reliable resourcing, BBM is well placed to make a difference to the obesity-related health inequities that disproportionately affect Māori and Pacific people.