“I felt like I was me again”: a pilot study exploring improv as a facilitator of wellness among women experiencing homelessness

ABSTRACT

This pilot study qualitatively examined the benefits of engaging women experiencing homelessness in group-based improv activities as a means of enhancing health and wellness outcomes in this marginalized population. Seven women experiencing homelessness residing in a women’s shelter and who participated in a professionally-facilitated improv workshop were engaged through in-depth qualitative interviews about their experiences. The workshop and data collection occurred in October 2021. Participants indicated that improv boosted their self-esteem and deepened social connections with others at the shelter. Participants were enthusiastic about accessing further improv opportunities, noting that improv should be embedded into other prevention and intervention approaches, particularly groups that are mandatory or that focus on stigmatized topics. Inclusion of improv activities in intervention and prevention efforts would benefit from additional exploration as ways by which services might be innovated and tailored to the specific health and wellness needs of women experiencing homelessness.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• improv
• health promotion
• arts-based research
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada: [Partnership Engage Grant].

Notes on contributors

Stephanie Begun

Stephanie Begun, PhD, MSW, RSW is an Assistant Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto.