‘Walking is the means to bring you together’: understanding men’s participation and non-participation in a group walking programme in Australia

Men remain underrepresented in community-based physical activity (PA) programmes despite experiencing a disproportionate burden of preventable chronic disease. Understanding how men experience participation in group-based walking programmes is important for informing strategies to better support their engagement in PA behaviour. This study explored how men's engagement and non-engagement with a national walking programme in Australia were experienced and understood from multiple perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 participants, including male walkers, walk organizers, men who do not participate in walking groups, and programme staff. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Engagement was supported when participation afforded autonomy, belonging, and meaningful contribution. These conditions occurred through everyday practices such as pausing to accommodate different paces, meeting for coffee after walks, greeting newcomers, and sharing group photographs. Practical roles and opportunities to contribute strengthened engagement, whereas directive leadership reduced autonomy and discouraged participation. Non-engagement was shaped by assumptions about walking groups as aimless or misaligned with men's current circumstances, alongside concerns about directive leadership that could limit autonomy. Across accounts, what appeared most salient to men was the opportunity to participate in ways that felt purposeful and contributive within an environment that fostered a sense of belonging. These findings highlight the importance of autonomy-supportive leadership and recognition of locally developed group practices in the design or adaptation of community-based PA programmes for men.