Examining Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women’s Experiences of Sport and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22177269Keywords:
Refugee women, Asylum-seeking women, Forced migration, Sport, Physical activity, Qualitative systematic reviewAbstract
Processes of forced migration and resettlement substantially shape women’s access to sport and physical activity, as well as the meanings they attribute to these experiences, through a range of social, cultural, and structural conditions. This qualitative systematic review aimed to systematically examine refugee and asylum-seeking women’s experiences of participation in sport and physical activity based on findings from qualitative research. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases were searched on June 5, 2026. A total of 1,075 records were identified. Following duplicate removal and title/abstract screening, 14 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 12 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The comparative synthesis identified six overarching themes: physical activity experiences transformed by migration, multilevel barriers to participation, safe and supportive participation environments, physical and psychological well-being, reconstruction of identity, and social connection and belonging. The findings indicate that women’s experiences of sport and physical activity were constrained by financial limitations, transportation barriers, caregiving responsibilities, language difficulties, gender norms, cultural expectations, and uncertainties associated with the asylum process. In contrast, women-only and culturally responsive spaces, flexible programme structures, transportation and childcare support, and participatory programme design facilitated access and participation. Sport and physical activity provided meaningful experiences in relation to coping with stress, bodily awareness, self-confidence, autonomy, social connection, and a sense of belonging. Overall, the findings demonstrate that refugee and asylum-seeking women’s participation in physical activity should be understood not solely in terms of individual motivation, but in conjunction with the broader social and structural conditions that shape opportunities for participation.
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