Emotional development in eating disorders: A qualitative metasynthesis

Abstract

Emotions are considered to be an important feature in eating disorders. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies, which considered the role of emotions in eating disorders in order to gain further insight on how these individuals experience various emotions and the strategies they use to manage them. Databases including Web of Science, PsychInfo, EMBASE, Medline, and the Cochrane library were searched for qualitative studies. The search identified 16 relevant studies. Meta‐ethnography was used to synthesize the data, which involved identifying the key findings and concepts of the studies and creating metaphors. The synthesis involved reciprocal translations and lines of argument approaches being applied to the present data. Results of the synthesis identified four second‐order themes and one third‐order theme relating to the emotional experiences of such individuals. The second‐order themes were (a) negative emotional environments, (b) interpersonal vulnerability, (c) the experience of negative emotions in social contexts, and (d) the management of emotions. The third‐order theme was the emotional self within a social environment. This is the first metasynthesis on emotions and eating disorders, and our synthesis highlights the important role that emotions play in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Our model demonstrates how poor emotional development whilst growing up results in development of poor socioemotional bonds and the inability to handle negative emotions. The most significant finding of the review is that individuals use their eating disorder to manage negative emotions.

“Breaking down the wall” patients` and families` experience of multifamily therapy for young adult women with severe eating disorders

“…Tantillo and colleagues [ 22 ] write about the disconnection pointed to by adults with an ED and their family members in MFT. This is a reference to the loss of connection between the patients and their feelings and the disconnection between family members one from another (which may be caused by feelings of guilt or blame about the cause of the ED, and poor emotional bonds [ 51 ], or by patients withholding information in order to maintain their autonomy [ 20 ]), to the effects of not knowing what best to say, of trying to avoid conflict, of misunderstandings and of sheer exhaustion. Also, disconnection from friends, colleagues, the wider family and the outside world generally [[ 22 ], p. 279).…”

The Role of Emotion Regulation in Eating Disorders: A Network Meta-Analysis Approach

“…Indeed, it has been suggested that self-starvation itself works as an emotion regulation strategy which reduces both the internal experience and external expression of emotions through ( 153 ). By suppressing physiological responses and arousal, starvation can help the person escape and avoid unwanted emotions ( 153 , 154 ). If no alternative methods are available, the person may over time become reliant on starvation as their sole emotion regulation strategy due to its numbing effect ( 155 , 156 ).…”

The role of emotion regulation in eating disorders: a network meta-analysis approach

“…Indeed, it has been suggested that self-starvation itself works as an emotion regulation strategy which reduces both the internal experience and external expression of emotions through (Haynos & Fruzzetti, 2011). By suppressing physiological responses and arousal, starvation can help the person escape and avoid unwanted emotions (Haynos & Fruzzetti, 2011;Henderson, Fox, Trayner, & Wittkowski, 2019). If no alternative methods are available, the person may over time become reliant on starvation as their sole emotion regulation strategy due to its numbing effect (Oldershaw, Startup, & Lavender, 2019;Schmidt & Treasure, 2006).…”