Space for Self-Care? Adolescents’ Rationales for Being Physically Active

Abstract

Guided by Foucault’s theorization of power, self and strategies for self-care, the study aimed to characterize adolescents’ rationales for being physically active as the outcome of their negotiations with dominant discourses. Using stratified random sampling method, a sample of 291 adolescents (female = 161, age 11–14) was selected from 24 middle schools. With the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) rates ranging from 22% to 78%, the schools were drawn from six school districts that served urban, suburban, and rural communities. Photo-elicited semi-structured interviews were conducted. Discourse analyses were performed on the interview transcripts. Students identified health, body image, and physical capacities, in this order of significance, as leading rationales for physical activity participation. The finding indicates that students had been heavily influenced by dominant discourses, especially healthism, discourse on body image, and athleticism/ablism. Nevertheless, most students’ rationales for physical activities did not contain stereotypical and judgmental binary ideals based on which these dominant discourses were constructed. A small number of students demonstrated the potential of engaging self-care practices—reflectively and flexibly adopting discourses for their own needs. The findings suggest educators and practitioners help adolescents to disrupt the discourses of binaries for self-care.