“We could just be what we wanted to be”: The role of leisure and recreation in supporting women’s mental health during COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT Women’s mental health has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Women have experienced higher rates of unemployment, domestic violence, caregiving responsibilities and reduced access to social supports because of public health measures related to COVID-19. It is well established that leisure and recreation can support mental health, yet, the role of leisure and recreation in supporting women’s mental health during COVID-19 is relatively unknown. In partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association-Yukon, the purpose of this community-based participatory research study was to understand how leisure and recreation might support women’s mental health in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory during COVID-19. Twelve self-identifying women between the ages of 22–65 years participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. A participatory data analysis approach was employed and the findings are represented by five themes: (a) focus on yourself, (b) facilitating feel-good emotions, (c) connection and support networks, (d) navigating the northern context, and (e) women-identified opportunities. Findings suggest leisure and recreation offer various processes that assist women with managing stressful situations that in turn support their mental health. These processes include promoting self-determination, generating positive emotions, and strengthening connectedness. Actionable steps to support women’s mental health in a northern context are also presented.