Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination of women with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Limited research indicates that public attitudes toward individuals with eating disorders are moderately negative. The present study examined specific forms of stigmatisation attributed to individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). Eighty female participants recruited from an undergraduate institution completed questionnaires assessing stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination of four target individuals: a woman with AN, depression, schizophrenia and mononucleosis. AN was considered to result more from lack of social support and biological factors than poor living habits. Characteristics attributed to targets were less positive for AN than the targets with schizophrenia and mononucleosis; participants reported greater discomfort interacting with the target with AN compared to the targets with depression and mononucleosis. Having actual contact with an individual with AN related to a positive predicted outcome of and comfort in interacting with the target with AN. Findings support the existence of stigma toward individuals with AN. Future research should examine means of reducing stigma.

Eating disorder literacy and stigmatising attitudes towards anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder among adolescents

“…Previous research investigating the lay beliefs and stigma associated with EDs has tended to recruit adult community or university samples rather than adolescents, Help-seeking is also likely to be undermined by the negative attitudes to people with EDs that this research revealed. The results confirm previous international findings that among the general population, EDs are stigmatised to a greater extent than other mental or physical health conditions (Roehrig & McLean, 2010;Stewart et al, 2006Stewart et al, , 2008Crisp, 2005;Griffiths et al, 2014b). The differential responses to the various vignettes show that unfavourable attitudes were present in this adolescent sample.…”

“…The differential responses to the various vignettes show that unfavourable attitudes were present in this adolescent sample. Specifically, and consistent with previous research in other jurisdictions (Roehrig & McLean, 2010;Stewart et al, 2006Stewart et al, , 2008Crisp, 2005), young people tended to hold individuals with EDs personally responsible for their illness and ascribe more negative characteristics to them compared to those with depression and T1 diabetes.…”

“…A similar vignette-based design by Stewart et al (2006), using an older community-based sample, found that participants were more likely to blame the AN target for their illness and to believe that they could simply 'pull themselves together'. A further study by Stewart et al (2008) found that relative to targets suffering from depression or infectious disease, female undergraduate students attributed less positive characteristics to and anticipated greater discomfort interacting with an individual affected by AN.…”

Stigma and treatment of eating disorders in Ireland: healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes

“…Research shows that the social stigma surrounding ED is a major barrier to seeking help (Booth et al 2004;Hackler et al 2010;Griffiths et al in press). Studies conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom suggest that people with EDs are viewed negatively by the public (Crisp, 2005;Stewart et al 2008). Specifically, compared with other mental and physical illnesses, EDs are more often seen as self-inflicted or reflecting attention-seeking (Crisp, 2005;Stewart et al 2006;Crisafulli et al 2008;Roehrig & McLean, 2010;Ebneter & Latner, 2013;McLean et al 2014).…”

“…Specifically, compared with other mental and physical illnesses, EDs are more often seen as self-inflicted or reflecting attention-seeking (Crisp, 2005;Stewart et al 2006;Crisafulli et al 2008;Roehrig & McLean, 2010;Ebneter & Latner, 2013;McLean et al 2014). These negative projections may result in dissociation from individuals with EDs (Crisp, 2005;Stewart et al 2008;Zwickert & Rieger, 2013), which can foster a sense of isolation among those affected and a reluctance to disclose their illness.…”