An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation of the Experiences of Physically Active Women Living in Large Bodies

Lambert, Angela M.

An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation of the Experiences of Physically Active Women Living in Large Bodies

dc.contributor.advisor	Russell-Mayhew, Shelly K.
dc.contributor.author	Lambert, Angela M.
dc.contributor.committeemember	Mudry, Tanya E.
dc.contributor.committeemember	McDonough, Meghan H.
dc.contributor.committeemember	Russell-Mayhew, Shelly K.
dc.date	2019-11
dc.date.accessioned	2019-09-03T18:43:20Z
dc.date.available	2019-09-03T18:43:20Z
dc.date.issued	2019-08-27
dc.description.abstract	Weight stigma, the devaluation of individuals perceived to be large-bodied, can be an obstacle to participation in physical activity. Although perceived, internalized, and experienced weight stigma are correlated with physical activity avoidance, many women who live in large bodies are physically active. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this research explored how six adult women who identified as both large-bodied and physically active understood their lived experiences. The analysis uncovered five superordinate themes central to the participants’ experiences: (1) largeness as a representation of a flaw or failure, (2) distancing from the largeness-as-flaw perspective, (3) patterns of contradictory perspectives, (4) adoption of a (too-) large-body identity, and (5) protective mechanism that mitigate harm. Participants adopted a large-body identity, managed their large-body identity in the context of weight stigma, and understood and navigated between two contradictory ways of viewing body size and physical activity. This research is valuable on two levels. Firstly, it deepened the understanding of the lived experience of physically active women who live in large bodies. Secondly, it explored the identity management of women who saw themselves as physically active and large-bodied. This research offered a number of implications for counselling, medical, and physical activity professions. Professionals should be aware of the complicated relationships clients may have with physical activity and body size. Additionally, short-term mental-health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity may be more effective motivators toward physical-activity identity development in women who identify as large-bodied compared to weight loss.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Lambert, A. M. (2019). An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation of the Experiences of Physically Active Women Living in Large Bodies (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/36924
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/110846
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Werklund School of Education	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	Body size	en_US
dc.subject	Weight stigma	en_US
dc.subject	Physical activity	en_US
dc.subject	Interpretative phenomenological analysis	en_US
dc.subject	Living in a large body	en_US
dc.subject	Identity	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Educational Psychology	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Guidance and Counseling	en_US
dc.title	An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation of the Experiences of Physically Active Women Living in Large Bodies	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Education Graduate Program – Educational Psychology	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US