Active for a day: Predictors of relapse among previously active mass event participants

Background: To promote maintenance of sufficient physical activity (PA), better understanding of factors associated with behavioral relapse is needed. Purpose: To identify PA relapsers and predictors of this state in a large community sample of women who participated in 2 mass 10-km events in Ireland. Methods: Relapsers to ‘low active’ were identified at 3-month follow-up, and factors associated with relapse investigated. Results: 11% of the sample decreased their participation by at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity PA per week and regressed to ‘insufficiently active.’ Adjusted analysis indicated relapse was associated with walking the event (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.05–1.85) and not achieving tertiary education (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.18–1.88). Normal-range BMI, training continuously, urban residence, and increases in self efficacy and positive perceptions of the physical environment were related to lower incidence of relapse. Conclusion: Education, living in an urban area, BMI, walking the event, training, and self efficacy are all associated with relapse and while mass events are a useful motivator for PA, strategies are required following events to maintain participation levels and generate a lasting public health impact.