Psychological therapy for an eating disorder: partners' experiences
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the experiences of partners whose loved one is undergoing psychological therapy for an eating disorder
IRAS ID
326233
Contact name
Nancy Tucker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 0 days
Research summary
Supporting a loved one with an eating disorder (ED) can be difficult and stressful. Whilst some studies have looked at the experiences of parents and carers supporting children through EDs, the experience of romantic partners has not been explored as much. Those studies that have involved partners (e.g. Huke & Slade, 2008; O’Connor et al., 2018) have tended to look at their experience generally, rather than focus on any single part of that experience. One interesting part of the partner’s experience is supporting their loved one through psychological therapy. Individuals with EDs can experience psychological therapy as threatening and aversive, and their treatment may bring new challenges to partners.
This project aims to find out what it is like for people to support their partner through psychological therapy for an ED. Eight to ten participants will be recruited from Carer Support Groups run by South West London and St George’s Eating Disorder Service, and through advertising via the ED charity Beat. Participants will undergo an interview with the lead researcher. The researcher will decide what questions to ask by talking to people who have experience EDs ('experts by experience'/'EBEs').
This study will use grounded theory: a method where the researcher looks at the data carefully, and uses it to come up with theories (Patton, 1990). The researcher will discuss these theories with EBEs. The researcher will continue to conduct interviews until the interviews are no longer bringing new information. This is called 'theoretical saturation'.
The findings of this project should highlight what support partners need while their loved one is receiving therapy. If this can be provided, partners should feel better able to help their loved one through treatment, which may make treatment more effective.
This study is part of a clinical psychology doctorate project at Royal Holloway, University of London.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0402
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion