How Women's Identities Influence Their Exercise Experiences After Cancer

While past research has explored cancer- or exercise-related identities to better understand exercise behaviors in those living with and beyond cancer (LWBC), related research shows that other identities (eg, motherhood) also shape exercise experiences. Western sociocultural norms and exercise cultures have historically created inequitable exercise experiences due to traditional gendered ideals and expectations. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore the identities of women LWBC and examine how various identities shape their exercise experiences while living within a gendered Western context.

Guided by a social constructivist worldview and feminist lens, semistructured interviews and interpretive description analysis were used to examine multiple subjective realities and the sociocultural forces underpinning these identities and experiences.

Participants represented a diverse range of professions, life stages, family status, community settings, sexual and gender identity, and cancer and exercise experiences. Four main themes were constructed: (1) salient identities and identity sensations among women LWBC, (2) interplay of salient coexisting identities and identity sensations among women LWBC, (3) identity's influence on exercise experiences among women LWBC, and (4) influence of the interplay of coexisting identities on exercise experiences among women LWBC. The identities of women LWBC and the ways these identities intersect were found to influence women's exercise experiences by fostering or impeding engagement and shaping what activities they engage in.

Health and exercise professionals should consider women's perspectives and experiences as well as social contexts when recommending or designing exercise programs.