Women's experiences of physically active leisure during pregnancy

ABSTRACT

While leisure researchers have long examined the ways in which motherhood can affect women's physically active leisure and, in turn, their health and well-being [e.g. Cramp and Bray 2011; Miller, Yvette D., and Wendy J. Brown. 2005. “Determinants of Active Leisure for Women with Young Children – An ‘Ethic of Care' Prevails.” Leisure Sciences 27 (5): 405–420; Shaw, Susan M. 2008. “Family Leisure and Changing Ideologies of Parenthood.” Sociology Compass 2 (2): 688–703], they have thus far neglected to investigate the physical experience of pregnancy as it relates to women's leisure. This study explored how women's experience of pregnancy and the changing body may play a role in shaping and defining their physically active leisure. Interviews were completed with 12 pregnant women and data were analysed thematically. Findings suggest that women experience an acute loss of control (over their pregnant bodies and over their actions) while simultaneously lacking solid information regarding how to best maintain their health and that of their unborn baby. The findings have important implications for women's health and leisure.

KEYWORDS:

• Physically active leisure
• pregnant embodiment
• social construction of pregnancy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Kate Evans is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She earned her degree from Clemson University. Her research interests include investigating the various factors that define women's physically active leisure experiences.

Kellie A. Walters is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University. She earned her MS degree from Colorado State University in the Health and Exercise Science Department. Her research interests include studying the psychosocial effects of physical activity in women and adolescent girls.

Toni Liechty is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her degree in Leisure Studies from the Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include the connection between body image and physically active leisure.

Kelsey M. LeFevour is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where she also received her MS degree. Her research interests include the diffusion of Paralympic sport as a mainstream sporting entity and the representation of athletes with disabilities in the media.

Notes

1. Pick-up soccer is a format during which any individual is free to join regardless of skill, membership on a particular team or commitment to multiple games.