How Macro-Level Factors Influence Running Performance Across Nations? A Network Model

Previous studies have highlighted the relevant role of macro-level variables (such as economic, demographic, and cultural factors of countries) in explaining differences in running participation and performance. However, no information is available regarding how the macro-level variables can influence the micro-level (e.g., performance). PURPOSE: to identify mechanisms by which macro-level factors can influence the performance of runners from different countries, using the complex system as a theoretical framework. METHODS: Data comes from the cross-sectional project InTrack. The sample comprises 189 runners (38.9 ± 9.6 years) of both sexes, from Brazil, Kenya, Portugal, and Spain. Runners’ information was obtained through a web survey, including age, sex, socioeconomic level, training frequency, and running pace (outcome variable). The Human Development Index (HDI) and populational density were obtained from the secondary database for each country. Performance differences between countries were tested using ANOVA one-way, followed by the Tukey post-hoc test. The network analysis, considering the EBICglasso estimator, and centrality indicators (betweenness, closeness, expected influence), was used to find connections between macro and micro-level variables. The JASP software was used, adopting 95% of the confidence interval. RESULTS: Performance was significantly different between countries [F (3, 164) = 10.2; p < 0.01, η 2 = 0.157], with about 15% of the performance variance being explained by country. Network analysis results revealed that training frequency (-1.42), HDI (-1.46), and age (1.36) presented the highest betweenness and closeness values, with age having the highest expected influence value within the network. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that HDI plays a connecting role among network variables, suggesting that environmental variables influence training conditions and, for instance, performance differences between countries. In addition, age was found to be a relevant factor in the expression of performance among runners.