Exploring the effects of goal congruence and resource dependence on active living collaborative members' perceptions of success

INTRODUCTION: Multisectoral collaborative groups are frequently employed to support community goals, such as improving the built environment to increase physical activity opportunities. Several studies of collaborative group success exist, yet there is little agreement on the correlates of success, and more specifically, correlates of group members' perceptions of success. This study provides insight into the contextual and compositional factors related to members' perceptions of success. METHODS: We surveyed active living collaborative group members using the web-based network survey and analysis tool entitled ‘PARTNER'. We examined individual-level member characteristics (e.g., length of time involved, sector affiliation, resource contribution, perception of goals) and group-level collaborative characteristics (e.g., age and size of group, network density and centrality) as they relate to perceptions of success. We used multi-level models to test whether and how member and collaborative differences relate to members' perceptions of success. RESULTS: 384 members (69% response rate, 3-17 members per group) from 53 collaboratives and 22 states completed the online survey. Results will shed light on the dynamics among members from different sectors and the underlying challenges regarding goal incongruence and resource interdependence as they relate to transportation, planning and public health. DISCUSSION: Understanding the factors that influence members' perceptions can help collaborative leaders better elicit members' expectations and experiences and establish relevant, authentic goals for the collaborative. In order to be successful, groups must span the boundaries of sectors and address goal congruence to realize structural and policy changes to the built environment to support physical activity.