Exploring Trauma- and Violence-Informed Physical Activity Approaches: Refugee Women’s Perspectives

This proposed research aims to understand the barriers to mental health and physical activity supports for self-identified refugee women, from both youth and older populations, who have experienced trauma and/or violence. Limited access to adequate mental and physical health services for refugee women has led to underdiagnosis of mental illness amongst refugee women and the underutilization of important mental health services and resources. From this research, I aim to understand if a trauma and violence-informed approach to physical activity (TVIPA) may serve as a useful strategy to promote the uptake of physical activity in refugee dominate communities. Core principles of TVIPA includes providing individuals with a physically, socially, and emotionally safe space to engage in physical activity. In collaboration with Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre (WHIWH), barriers to physical activity can be identified by meaningfully engaging with self-identified refugee women at this center. From this interaction, we also aim to understand if/how TVIPA designed through an intergenerational lens with/for refugee women have the potential to increase access to PA programming. Findings from this study could also serve to inform strategies for ethnic-based community organizations to strengthen intergenerational connectedness and mental well-being through physical activity.

Faculty Supervisor:

Francine Darroch

Student:

Partner:

Mental Health Research Canada;Women's Health in Women's Hands

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Carleton University

Program: