Adult's stories about accessing treatment for their eating disorder
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adult's stories about accessing treatment for their eating disorder: A narrative analysis of people's journeys into treatment
IRAS ID
265307
Contact name
Carly Morriss
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 18 days
Research summary
Research has shown people with eating disorders are more reluctant to access treatment and typically seek help later. Per year, the number of individuals accessing treatment for an eating disorder is considerably less (19-36%) than people accessing treatment for other mental health difficulties (35-41%: Cachelin & Striegel-Moore, 2006; Hart, Granillo, Jorm, & Paxton, 2011). Individuals accessing treatment for an eating disorder usually do so after an average of 10-15 years, compared to an 8.2 year delay for people who mood or anxiety related difficulties (Browne, Wells, & Mcgee, 2006). People with eating disorders have been shown to have poorer outcomes compared to other mental health problems; with higher risk of death and a reduced likelihood of recovery (Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales & Nielson, 2011). My study aims to explore journeys through services with the following objectives:
• Consider whether accessing treatment affects a person’s self-identity; in particular what does it mean for a person to access a service labelled as eating disordered
• Consider whether accessing treatment means the person has recognised they are experiencing difficulties
• Consider any barriers people may experience when accessing support for their eating disorder
I aim to conduct one-off narrative interviews with 8-10 participants, recruited through the Cornwall Eating Disorders Service. Each participant will be paid £8.00 an hour for their time. All interviews will be audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a narrative framework. I will focus on using a narrative structural analysis framework and a narrative thematic analysis framework. The use of narratives enables people to bring about understanding, organisation and meaning to something that is essentially muddled (Murray, 2003). From using a narrative analysis framework, I hope to hear how a person’s story is told, its coherence and how integrated or disjointed it is and then consider themes from individuals stories. I plan to use narrative inducing open-ended questions to facilitate the person in telling their story leading up to and following accessing treatment for their eating disorder.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0200
Date of REC Opinion
4 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion