Childhood onset anorexia nervosa: the experience of parents

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the experience of parents who had a child with early onset anorexia nervosa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 parents (seven mothers and four fathers). Qualitative data analysis yielded eight core themes structured around three broad domains: understanding the eating disorder, the impact of the eating disorder, and managing the eating disorder and its impact. The themes revealed that the experience of having a child with anorexia nervosa is extremely demanding and personally challenging for parents. Despite this, parents remained determined to help their child in the face of this debilitating condition. The implications for the delivery of services for children and adolescents with eating disorders and their families are discussed.

The relationship between dysfunctional family patterns and symptom severity among adolescent patients with eating disorders: A gender-specific approach

“…Caring for a relative with an Eating Disorder (ED) is associated with significant levels of psychological distress and burden (Cottee-Lane, Pistrang, & Bryant-Waugh, 2004;Haigh & Treasure, 2003). Moreover, families of persons suffering from an ED report physical and mental health deterioration, poor quality of life and interpersonal difficulties (Highet, Thompson, & King, 2005;Nielsen & Bara-Carril, 2003).…”

How do we get our Daughter back? Parents' Perspectives on Recovery from Anorexia Nervosa

“…Parents felt they were losing their daughter to AN, a theme which is also represented in earlier research by Cottee-Lane et al [25] in which parents depict a "dreadful monster" which has taken over their child. Parents described feeling lost alongside their child with previous ways of responding to their child's behaviour no longer proving effective.…”

“…Looking back at the literature review, the impact of the illness on family life is a theme emerging in previous studies of parents' perceptions of recovery [23,24] and in the literature on parents' experiences of caring for a daughter with AN [10,25]. The invasion of AN into family life dominated parents descriptions of their experience and highlights that this is a mental illness experienced by the whole family, not just the sufferer.…”

“…Similar concerns have been highlighted in previous studies investigating the experience of caring for a daughter with an eating disorder. Parents have reported a lack of understanding around the illness from family and friends, feeling that others could not appreciate the true extent of the difficulties the family were facing [25,34]. In addition, in a study by McCormack and McCann [10], parents talk explicitly about stigma and the detrimental impact this had on themselves and their daughter.…”

“…Parents expressed frustration at waiting times for specialist services and reported the detrimental impact of further weight loss. Similarly, parents in previous studies have reported frustrations that their GP had not initially recognised the presenting difficulties as an eating disorder [10,25]. NHS England have recently published access and waiting time standards for children and young people with an eating disorder [38].…”