“Don't come to class when you’re happy”: exploring leisure-time physical activity providers’ approaches to supporting the wellbeing of survivors of violence against women

Leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) can support physical and mental health, thus potentially being beneficial for people with experiences of violence against women (VAW). Yet there is little evidence of how spaces are facilitated to enable participation in LTPA. The experiences of leisure and/or VAW support practitioners in delivering and/or supporting survivors to engage in LTPA in Scotland were explored through fifteen semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, which were then mapped onto the self-determination theory’s (SDT) principles of competence, autonomy and relatedness. The findings suggest that leisure providers create spaces where survivors can improve their physical skills and confidence, become empowered and better able to cope with trauma symptoms, and connect with others. Costs represent barriers for survivors attending LTPA and challenges providers grapple with. This study is one of the first to explore the experiences of LTPA and VAW professionals. The findings may be relevant both for women services and general LTPA providers aiming to work with survivors, as reducing isolation, improving confidence and empowerment are possible through confidential and cost-free LTPA.