The parent experience of eating disorders: Interactions with health professionals

Abstract

The experiences of parents with a child with anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa were explored and this article aims to present one component of that study: parents' interactions with health professionals. The research was initiated after anecdotal stories from parents led the authors to undertake a literature review, which revealed a paucity of published research on this topic. Twenty-two interviews were conducted with volunteer parents from New South Wales, Australia. A descriptive qualitative design was used and themes were identified through in-depth analysis. Six themes were identified: finding help, feeling shut out, engagement, images portrayed, being resourceful and parents not prepared to give up. The implications for health professionals include that they acknowledge parental involvement in recovery. We urge the nursing profession, particularly mental health nurses, to work towards establishing collaborative partnerships between families & health professionals in order to achieve a better health outcome for all.

Theoretical and empirical models around caring for someone with an eating disorder: The reorganization of family life and inter-personal maintenance factors

“…As family members consistently express, this period is extremely stressful and straining on the family. Often families know very little about the illness itself and how to access the appropriate services (Cottee-Lane et al, 2004;McMaster et al, 2004;Winn et al, 2004). Faced with great concern and uncertainty, families may make concerted efforts to try and ''make sense of the illness'', educating themselves about the illness and accessing a variety of services for advice on how to manage it.…”

“…In other families there is a higher degree of conflict, which may be accompanied by feelings of blame and guilt. Families often report feeling absorbed with negative, self-blaming emotions such as guilt, failure, and inadequacy (Treasure et al, 2001;Perkins et al, 2004;Whitney et al, 2005), feelings that carers feel are reinforced by some health professionals (McMaster et al, 2004).…”

Predictors of family functioning in carers of individuals with anorexia nervosa

“…The most prominent caregiving activity gleaned from qualitative studies of caregivers of individuals with ED is that caregivers spend a considerable amount of time seeking out and coordinating treatment and support services. 9,[11][12][13] In addition, qualitative studies indicate that caregiver distress in ED may be exacerbated by the experience of stigma. 2,3 Few quantitative studies of AN caregivers have been conducted.…”

Understanding how parents cope with living with someone with anorexia nervosa: Modelling the factors that are associated with carer distress

“…12 In light of the severity of the illness and the impact on carers and families, it is becoming increasingly recognized that professionals need to address carer needs and provide families with the resources necessary to enable caregiving as well as help to create a familial environment which is conducive to adaptive changes in family functioning. 25,26 Identifying and addressing carer needs carries unquestionable prognostic significance: providing support to carers and lowering their distress can empower carers, enabling the family to serve as an important resource in treatment, which in turn may help reduce relapse as well as convey other benefits to sufferers. 27 The need for providing carers with information and support has also been recommended by the NICE b ED guidelines for England and Wales.…”