title: Exploring the attitudes towards and experiences of geocaching amongst families in the community.
abstract: There is a need for physical activity interventions to focus on autonomous forms of motivation to increase uptake and maintenance. Geocaching is a GPS-based treasure-hunt game with potential to increase levels of walking. The study aim was to explore the experiences of a geocaching intervention for people introduced to geocaching. A five-week geocaching intervention took place. Participants (n = 30) were recruited via school assemblies and village posters. Semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 21) were conducted post intervention to determine the participants' motives, barriers and experiences of geocaching. Geocaching motivators (social activity, challenge/discovery) and barriers (lack of time, problems with mobile technology and unsuccessful trips) were identified. Findings suggest that geocaching is a feasible activity to promote physical activity, particularly among families. Further robust and larger scale trials are required that target sedentary individuals, adopting strategies to reduce perceived barriers to geocaching.
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport and Service Management , University of Brighton , Eastbourne , UK.
authors.forename: Shelagh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: b Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: community; families; green exercise; intervention; walking