“For me, it's just a piece of freedom”—Increased empowerment through physical activity promotion among socially disadvantaged women

Abstract

IntroductionCommunity-based participatory research (CBPR) is an effective health promotion approach for reaching socially disadvantaged groups. However, there is limited evidence on how such interventions and their effects can be reproduced across time and place. The present study examines the effects of BIG (i.e., movement as an investment in health), a long-standing German CBPR project. Since 2005, BIG has aimed to empower women in difficult life situations to increase control over their health determinants and reduce social inequalities by promoting physical activity. One of BIG's key features is its implementation in several German municipalities since 2005. This study explores (a) whether participation could change women's empowerment, and (b) how increased empowerment affects other areas of women's lives.MethodsWith a total of 63 interviewees (i.e., 40 participating women, 7 trainers, 3 project coordinators, and 13 stakeholders), we conducted 53 semi-structured qualitative interviews in five BIG communities between 2007 and 2011. Some interviews were conducted with two people simultaneously. The interview guide contained questions on various dimensions of empowerment (e.g., project engagement, increased self-efficacy, and developed competencies). Framework analysis was used for the analytical process.ResultsBIG contributed to women's empowerment in various ways, including increased self-efficacy, social network promotion, competency development, and increased motivation to change physical activity behavior. Women who took on added tasks and became more involved in project planning also strengthened their organizational empowerment. Furthermore, increased empowerment had a positive influence on the women's quality of life, family, and professional lives.ConclusionThe novel findings helped in understanding the effects of a complex empowerment-based approach that promoted physical activity among women in difficult life situations. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of these programs and their transferability to other sites. Further effort is necessary in the area of public health policy.

“That's like therapy”—A qualitative study on socially disadvantaged women's views on the effects of a community-based participatory research project on their health and health behavior

“…This empowerment manifests as increased self-efficacy and self-confidence ( 35 , 36 ). Sauter et al ( 37 ) analyzed qualitative interviews conducted at five BIG sites between 2007 and 2011 and confirmed the positive effects on their individual empowerment (e.g., expansion of their social network and increased integration of PA into their daily lives). They also emphasized the impact on women's organizational (e. g., communicating their desires and requirements to others) and community empowerment (e.g., developing advanced problem-solving skills) ( 37 ).…”

“…They also emphasized the impact on women's organizational (e. g., communicating their desires and requirements to others) and community empowerment (e.g., developing advanced problem-solving skills) ( 37 ). The transferability of the BIG approach was observed among the examined communities ( 37 ). Furthermore, quantitative data collected at two BIG sites between 2006 and 2013 reported improved health status and increased PA among participating women compared to before BIG participation ( 38 ).…”

“…Participation had positive effects on the general wellbeing and PA behavior of the participating women and contributed to their empowerment ( 33 – 38 ). While several studies have reported these short-term effects of participatory interventions ( 31 – 37 ), there is a lack of studies examining the long-term effects of participation in long-standing CBPR projects on the health and health behavior of socially disadvantaged women ( 39 ). These long-term effects might only occur years after the projects have been implemented when women have participated for several years ( 40 , 41 ).…”

A cross-sectional study on the perceived barriers to physical exercise among women in Iraqi Kurdistan Region

“…However, they may be vulnerable to other human rights abuses and suffer poor health outcomes [ 25 ]. Research has shown that women empowerment programs have contributed to women’s increased motivation to change physical activity behavior [ 26 ].…”

Empowerment through participation in community-based participatory research—effects of a physical activity promotion project among socially disadvantaged women

“…In the following, we refer to these considerations and to “empowerment outcomes on the individual” level and “empowering processes on the organizational and community levels” ( 39 ). Our approach has been used in previous studies examining the empowerment of socially disadvantaged women through their participation in PA promotion ( 43 , 44 ).…”