The personal meaning of eating disorder symptoms: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Andrew P. Fox, Michael Larkin, Newman Leung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the personal meaning of eating difficulties. Eight women with a variety of eating issues were interviewed. These conversations were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to construct a framework for understanding the personal world of the interviewees. Three overarching themes identified in participants' accounts of their experiences are reported here: the experience of the eating difficulties as functional; negative effects of having eating difficulties; ambivalence towards the eating difficulties. These themes add to our knowledge of the potential role of personal experiences in the aetiology and maintenance of eating difficulties.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)116-125
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Health Psychology
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011

Keywords

  • eating disorders
  • experience
  • Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
  • phenomenology
  • youth

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