Feasibility and User Experience of a Lyric Analysis Peer Support Intervention (LAPSI) for Psychological Distress Among South African Women

Psychological distress disproportionately affects women in South Africa, especially those living with or impacted by HIV. Stigma, structural barriers, and gaps in service provision limit access to appropriate care. This qualitative study explored the experiences of women participating in the Lyric Analysis Peer Support Intervention (LAPSI), focusing on implementation feasibility, usability, motivators for participation, and perceived benefits. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 South African women from two sites (Mthatha and Tshwane). Data analysis utilized reflexive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s framework, revealing three interrelated themes: (1) feasibility of and barriers to engagement; (2) usability of LAPSI; and (3) motivators for engagement and perceived benefits. Participants reported ongoing barriers to mental health support, such as stigma, fear of negative judgment, and transport issues. However, they noted that LAPSI helped alleviate these challenges by creating psychologically safe peer spaces, building trust through shared experiences, and using culturally relevant song lyrics to encourage emotional expression among diverse literacy levels. Overall, the findings suggest that LAPSI could serve as a music-informed psychosocial intervention, with potential for future evaluation and integration into community-based and HIV-related services to address psychological distress among South African women.