Trauma-afflicted refugees’ experiences of participating in physical activity and exercise treatment: a qualitative study based on focus group discussions

Abstract

Background: Refugees with prolonged and repeated experiences of trauma, often in combination with post-migration living difficulties, are subjected to severe levels of stress and stress-related ill health, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical activity (PA) is well-established as an effective stress reliever. However, the effect of PA and exercise has received scarce attention in the context of PTSD, and particularly in the field of refugees’ health.Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the experience of participation in PA and exercise as part of the treatment for trauma-afflicted refugees.Method: An explorative qualitative research design was used. Six focus group discussions were conducted with 33 female and male participants that had experience of group-based PA and exercise treatment. The gathered data was analysed by qualitative content analysis.Results: The analysis resulted in one over-arching theme reflecting the participants overall experience of PA and exercise as a process of building resilience. Participants experienced improvements in both physical and mental health domains. Increased self-awareness and self-confidence were seen as additional important benefits, and the interruption of daily stressors provided a sense of relief and recovery. The treatment group settings were experienced as becoming a vehicle for overcoming social fear and isolation, which also carried an empowering and strength-building impact over to participants’ family life and social relationships. Treatment characteristics were experienced as highly supportive and often referred to as the basis of other positive experiences and perceived health benefits.Conclusions: The result of this study outlines a detailed account of trauma-afflicted refugees’ experiences and preferences of PA and exercise-based treatment from a broad range of perspectives. These findings provide a starting point for future research in this field and indicate a particular need for both research and intervention development to include the real-life impact of participating in such treatments.

Collaborative effort to increase the physiotherapist’s competency in rehabilitation of torture survivors

“…This can lead to an inability to trust the body, and to develop a negative body image, dissatisfaction with the body and mistrust in activity performance. One important part of recovery is to learn how to use movements to deal with, or regulate, a conflicting inner state (Nilsson et al, 2019;Nyboe et al, 2017;Stade et al, 2015;Thornquist & Bunkan, 1991). The role of the physiotherapist is to help their patients to use and develop their movement potential.…”

Motivation by, Perceived Quality of and Satisfaction with Sports Services among Young Athletes: A Psychological Approach

“…Different studies indicate that physical-sporting activity (PSA) improves not only the physical state of the athlete but also the mental (psychological) state, combating stressful situations and improving self-esteem and socialisation [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Moreover, in socio-economic situations such as the current one, in which the moment one economic crisis ends, another starts, with consequent social tensions, sports can act as a palliative with respect to economic savings in public health and reduce the personal tensions resulting from the economic crises [ 8 , 9 ]. In spite of this, in its 2020 study, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that the rate of sports practice worldwide was still insufficient to improve the quality of life [ 10 ].…”

Physical Activity in Relation to Wellbeing Among Newly Arrived Refugees in Sweden: A Quantitative Study

“…A majority of refugees in one study also stated that they were less physically active since arriving to the host country than before they fled their home countries ( 18 ); it is plausible that newly arrived refugees feel that they have more important priorities than PA ( 20 ). In a recent study from Sweden that aimed to explore trauma-afflicted refugees' participation in PA as part of their treatment it was found that the refugees experienced that PA relieved their mental distress ( 21 ). As a consequence of being more physically active, they reported an increased wellbeing that for example could be related to that the felt more resilient and less stressed, had more energy and a better sleep.…”

“…As a consequence of being more physically active, they reported an increased wellbeing that for example could be related to that the felt more resilient and less stressed, had more energy and a better sleep. They also experienced PA as a positive interruption to their daily life ( 21 ). Moreover, a study among female Somali refugees in New Zealand found that PA also improved refugees' development of social relationships and community cohesion in their new home country ( 22 ).…”