Restoring connections in physical activity and mental health research and practice: a confessional tale

Abstract

This paper is a confessional tale about research and practice in the context of sport, physical activity and mental health. The centrepiece of the paper is an ethnographic fiction which, through a series of scenes, tells of our experiences of providing and researching a nine‐week golf programme for a group of men with severe and enduring mental health problems. Ethnographic fiction is a writing strategy which we chose for its ability to both generate and communicate the alternative kinds of knowledge which can be gained through ethnographic research. We reflect on the ways in which this writing strategy led us to a heightened awareness of the intricate web of connections – between people, places, experiences, events, objects and biographies – evident within this particular socio‐cultural setting. Awareness of these connections, we suggest, is necessary if we are to understand (1) the potential roles of sport and exercise for people with mental health difficulties, and (2) the methodological challenges faced by researchers in this field.