Content Analysis of Male Participation in Pro-Eating Disorder Web Sites

Abstract

The pro-anorexia community has emerged as a powerful cultural movement that takes an at least partially positive attitude toward anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A systematic review of the literature on pro-ana forums focused specifically on females with eating disorders. However, epidemiological data suggest that as much as 25% of the eating disorders population is male. In our review of pro-anorexia web sites, we found a substantial number of participants were male. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of male participation in pro-ana forums in an effort to learn more about male participation in these forums. In this article, we present the results of this analysis, highlighting themes of social support, community appreciation, and ambivalence, as well as themes that appear to be particular to the male experience of eating disorders, such as alienation and teasing.

Social Connection and Online Engagement: Insights From Interviews With Users of a Mental Health Online Forum

“…It did not focus on forums for nonmental health–related illnesses or discussions via social media. This review showed that studies focused primarily on a number of areas, including forums for specific diagnoses [7,8]; clinician-led or medical service–led sites, which are often used as an adjunct to other interventions [9-12]; and sites that focus on specific consumer groups including men and young people [13-15]. Analysis focused on 2 main areas: analyses of the content of forum posts and motivations and impact of forum use, but very little of this research focused on experiences from the forum user perspective.…”

“…Other content-based research utilizes forums as a methodological tool to understand naturally occurring chat for groups that may be difficult to engage with through traditional research. In addition, 2 studies, for example, analyzed men’s mental health, including a study which focused on depression [15] and another on eating disorders [8].…”

Objectifying fitness: A content and thematic analysis of #fitspiration images on social media.

“…These messages may be viewed positively: social support promoting self-efficacy across various age groups has been identified as important for exercise initiation and maintenance (Craggs, Corder, van Sluijs, & Griffin, 2011;Litt, Kleppinger, & Judge, 2002). Pro-eating disorder websites have similarly been found to be a source of social support and self-efficacy and provide a safe space in which individuals can interact with like-minded others (Borzekowski et al, 2010;Wooldridge, Mok, & Chiu, 2014). #Fitspiration text however, also facilitated a shared feeling of contempt towards those who did not belong or those who disapproved.…”

The Relationship Between Body Image Concerns, Eating Disorders and Internet Use, Part I: A Review of Empirical Support

“…Furthermore, many of the sites are interactive and offer forums through which participants can exchange stories or provide each other with support (Borzekowski and Rickert 2001;Mulveen and Hepworth 2006). This provision of support has been identified by members of pro-eating disorder online communities as one of the critical aspects of the groups (Brotsky and Giles 2007;Wooldridge et al 2014). In addition, however, participants report visiting pro-eating disorder websites to obtain help in maintaining disordered eating (Csipke and Horne 2007;Gavin et al 2008;Giles 2006), and the content of these sites often reaffirms the importance of thinness (Riley et al 2009).…”

“…Explorations of pro-eating disorder websites have conceptualized within a ''group identity'' framework, highlighting how these online groups develop a common identity, reinforced by the perceived hostility of the outgroup (proponents of eating ''disorders''), and the provision of social support to ingroup members (Brotsky and Giles 2007;Giles 2006;Riley et al 2009;Teufel et al 2013;Wooldridge et al 2014). A high proportion of eating disorder patients utilize these websites (Wilson et al 2006).…”