The Experiences and Strategies of Parents' of Adults with Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa: a Qualitative Study

Overview

Journal BMC Psychiatry

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2021 Jul 7

PMID 34229660

Citations 4

Authors

Jannike Karlstad

Cathrine Fredriksen Moe

Mari Wattum

Berit Store Brinchmann

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Caring for an individual with an eating disorder involves guilt, distress and many extra burdens and unmet needs. This qualitative study explored the experiences of parents with adult daughters suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa and the strategies they adopted. A subsidiary aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the caregivers' perceived need for professional support and the support they reported receiving in practice from the health services.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 mothers and fathers from across Norway. Data collection, coding and analysis was conducted using the principles of constructivist grounded theory in an iterative process. The main concern shared by participants was identified by this process and their "solution" to the main concern then formed the content of the core category.

Results: ″Wearing all the hats″ emerged as the core category, indicating that the parents have to fulfil several roles to compensate the lack of help from health services. The three subcategories: "adapting to the illness", "struggling for understanding and help" and "continuing to stay strong" described how the participants handled their situation as parents of adult daughters with eating disorders.

Conclusions: In daily life, the parents of adults with eating disorders have to attend to a wide range of caregiver tasks to help their ill daughters. This study suggests that the health services that treat adults with eating disorders should be coordinated, with a professional carer in charge. The parents need easy access to information about the illness and its treatment. They also need professional support for themselves in a demanding situation.

Citing Articles

"Like a rollercoaster": carer experiences of residential treatment for eating disorders.

Rankin R, Conti J, Ramjan L, Hay P J Eat Disord. 2025; 13(1):45.

PMID: 40069810 PMC: 11895211. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01226-w.

Brain and gut microbiota disorders in the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa.

Garcia-Gil M, Ceccarini M, Stoppini F, Cataldi S, Mazzeschi C, Delvecchio E Transl Neurosci. 2023; 13(1):516-526.

PMID: 36660007 PMC: 9824428. DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2022-0267.

"Balancing within a closed family system": a grounded theory study of how family life is affected by having a family member with an eating disorder.

Karlstad J, Moe C, Adelsten Stokland R, Brinchmann B J Eat Disord. 2022; 10(1):147.

PMID: 36217195 PMC: 9551600. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00669-9.

Psychosocial and financial impacts for carers of those with eating disorders in New Zealand.

Surgenor L, Dhakal S, Watterson R, Lim B, Kennedy M, Bulik C J Eat Disord. 2022; 10(1):37.

PMID: 35292104 PMC: 8922076. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00565-2.

Multiple perspectives and dialogue in understanding experiences of living with eating disorders: Two narratives-four unpackings.

Brinchmann B, Lyngmo S, Herholdt-Lomholdt S, Blix B J Eat Disord. 2022; 10(1):24.

PMID: 35168660 PMC: 8848953. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00554-5.

References

Fox J, Dean M, Whittlesea A . The Experience of Caring For or Living with an Individual with an Eating Disorder: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2015; 24(1):103-125. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.1984. View

McCormack C, McCann E . Caring for an adolescent with anorexia nervosa: parent's views and experiences. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2015; 29(3):143-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2015.01.003. View

Gisladottir M, Treasure J, Svavarsdottir E . Effectiveness of therapeutic conversation intervention among caregivers of people with eating disorders: quasi-experimental design. J Clin Nurs. 2016; 26(5-6):735-750. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.13412. View

Anastasiadou D, Medina-Pradas C, Sepulveda A, Treasure J . A systematic review of family caregiving in eating disorders. Eat Behav. 2014; 15(3):464-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.06.001. View

Ludvigsen M, Hall E, Westergren T, Aagaard H, Uhrenfeldt L, Fegran L . Being cross pressured-parents' experiences of the transfer from paediatric to adult care services for their young people with long term conditions: A systematic review and qualitative research synthesis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020; 115:103851. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103851. View

Highet N, Thompson M, King R . The experience of living with a person with an eating disorder: the impact on the carers. Eat Disord. 2006; 13(4):327-44. DOI: 10.1080/10640260591005227. View

Dimitropoulos G, Toulany A, Herschman J, Kovacs A, Steinegger C, Bardsley J . A qualitative study on the experiences of young adults with eating disorders transferring from pediatric to adult care. Eat Disord. 2014; 23(2):144-62. DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2014.976106. View

Wallier J, Vibert S, Berthoz S, Huas C, Hubert T, Godart N . Dropout from inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: critical review of the literature. Int J Eat Disord. 2009; 42(7):636-47. DOI: 10.1002/eat.20609. View

Keel P, Brown T . Update on course and outcome in eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2010; 43(3):195-204. DOI: 10.1002/eat.20810. View

10.

Treasure J, Murphy T, Szmukler G, Todd G, Gavan K, Joyce J . The experience of caregiving for severe mental illness: a comparison between anorexia nervosa and psychosis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2001; 36(7):343-7. DOI: 10.1007/s001270170039. View

11.

Graap H, Bleich S, Herbst F, Scherzinger C, Trostmann Y, Wancata J . The needs of carers: a comparison between eating disorders and schizophrenia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008; 43(10):800-7. DOI: 10.1007/s00127-008-0364-7. View

12.

Robinson P, Kukucska R, Guidetti G, Leavey G . Severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SEED-AN): a qualitative study of patients with 20+ years of anorexia nervosa. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2015; 23(4):318-26. DOI: 10.1002/erv.2367. View

13.

Weimand B, Hedelin B, Hall-Lord M, Sallstrom C . "Left alone with straining but inescapable responsibilities:" relatives' experiences with mental health services. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2011; 32(11):703-10. DOI: 10.3109/01612840.2011.598606. View

14.

Zabala M, Macdonald P, Treasure J . Appraisal of caregiving burden, expressed emotion and psychological distress in families of people with eating disorders: a systematic review. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2009; 17(5):338-49. DOI: 10.1002/erv.925. View

15.

Weimand B, Hedelin B, Sallstrom C, Hall-Lord M . Burden and health in relatives of persons with severe mental illness: a Norwegian cross-sectional study. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2010; 31(12):804-15. DOI: 10.3109/01612840.2010.520819. View

16.

Keski-Rahkonen A, Mustelin L . Epidemiology of eating disorders in Europe: prevalence, incidence, comorbidity, course, consequences, and risk factors. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016; 29(6):340-5. DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000278. View

17.

Honey A, Halse C . The specifics of coping: parents of daughters with anorexia nervosa. Qual Health Res. 2006; 16(5):611-29. DOI: 10.1177/1049732305285511. View

18.

Martin J, Padierna A, van Wijngaarden B, Aguirre U, Anton A, Munoz P . Caregivers consequences of care among patients with eating disorders, depression or schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry. 2015; 15:124. PMC: 4459460. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0507-9. View

19.

Honey A, Halse C . Looking after well siblings of adolescent girls with anorexia: an important parental role. Child Care Health Dev. 2006; 33(1):52-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00617.x. View

20.

Raenker S, Hibbs R, Goddard E, Naumann U, Arcelus J, Ayton A . Caregiving and coping in carers of people with anorexia nervosa admitted for intensive hospital care. Int J Eat Disord. 2012; 46(4):346-54. DOI: 10.1002/eat.22068. View