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Promoting Health of Refugees in and through Sport and Physical Activity: A Psychosocial, Trauma-Sensitive Approach

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An Uncertain Safety

Abstract

While psychosocial interventions are underlined by most international models of refugee health care, few guidelines exist so far as to the implementation of specific programmes. In this chapter, a resource-oriented, trauma−sensitive approach to sport and physical activity is presented, aiming to promote health and psychosocial support among refugees. We first provide an overview of research on sport and physical activity with linguistically and culturally diverse migrants and with refugees from conflict regions in ‘new societies’ as well as in refugee camps. Furthermore, we outline some initiatives from the sport for development and peace field and different body- and movement-based approaches with people living with posttraumatic stress disorder. We then present some key issues relating to the implementation of sport and physical activity for promoting health and psychosocial support. Finally, we draw some conclusions regarding research needs and practical implications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sport Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Clemens Ley

  2. NGO Asociación para la cooperación, la convivencia y la investigación, Madrid, Spain

    María Rato Barrio

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  1. World Psychiatric Association Scientific Section, Psychological Aspects of Persecution and Torture, Geneva, Switzerland

    Thomas Wenzel

  2. PsyQ/Parnassia Group, Rosmalen/Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Boris Drožđek

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Ley, C., Barrio, M.R. (2019). Promoting Health of Refugees in and through Sport and Physical Activity: A Psychosocial, Trauma-Sensitive Approach. In: Wenzel, T., Drožđek, B. (eds) An Uncertain Safety. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72914-5_13

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