Engagement in leisure and physical activities: analysing the biographical disruptions of a rare chronic disease in France

Abstract

Using the biographical disruption literature, this article examines how the experience of illness – in this case, pemphigus – reconfigures engagement in leisure activities, and how these activities are integrated into the biographies of persons with a rare chronic illness. Among the changes imposed by the illness, leisure activities are especially enlightening, as they primarily depend on the body. The article is based on a study of 50 interviews of persons with pemphigus, a rare and chronic dermatological disorder. The ways in which they relate to leisure activities give a new perspective on biographical disruption. The first striking observation is how diverse they are: illness does not level social differences or lived experience, and can even further consolidate commitment to engagements. We identified four types of engagement in leisure activities: disengagement, which reveals biographical disruption; adapted engagement, leading individuals toward low‐risk physical activities; engagement in medicalised normalisation; and salutary engagement.

Burden of pemphigus vulgaris with a particular focus on women: A review

“…This change largely relies on their social characteristics, not financial and facility status. 100 Encouraging patients to participate in suitable physical activities could be a big move toward a normal life. 101…”

Comprendre l’activité physique dans la maladie chronique : proposition d’un cadre théorique d’analyse

“…Ainsi dans le cas de la maladie chronique, il ressort qu'il est difficile d'envisager la question de l'activité physique indépendamment de ce que le sociologue de la santé Bury nomme la « rupture biographique » occasionnée par l'apparition de la pathologie, c'est à dire le bouleversement du quotidien, de la vie et de son sens pour la personne malade (18). C'est l'attention à cet aspect qui a permis par exemple après l'atteinte par une maladie dermatologique invalidante, la dermatite bulleuse, de décrire et comprendre les transformations drastiques de l'engagement dans les activités physiques et de loisir, allant d'un retrait total à un engagement plus ou moins fort (19).…”

Medical Physical Activity Level on Promoting Women's Cardiovascular Health

“…With the increase of mental work, prolonged sitting and working time, and increased work pressure, the intake of high-oil and high-fat foods by female teachers in colleges and universities has greatly affected female teachers' health in colleges universities. 8 This shows that insufficient physical activity can easily lead to fat accumulation of female teachers in colleges and universities to accelerate the formation of obesity further. With the increase in physical activity, the incidence of obesity can be reduced.…”