It would not have happened to me at home: qualitative exploration of sojourns abroad and eating disorders in young Czech women

Abstract

The importance of the identified trajectories and topics relating eating disorders to sojourns abroad needs to be estimated in an epidemiological study.

Change in risk factors for eating disorder symptomatology in Malay students sojourning in the United Kingdom

“…Specifically, participants in the present study had significantly higher scores of drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia symptoms as measured on the EDI‐3 post‐migration. Broadly speaking, these findings are consistent with earlier work indicating that sojourning abroad is an important factor in developing an eating disorder and negative body image …”

“…As various scholars have discussed, the onset of eating disorders may be triggered by the stress associated with moving abroad and adjusting to a different cultural environment. For example, in their qualitative interviews with Czech au pairs living abroad, researchers highlighted difficulties with adjusting to the host culture (e.g., fattier foods leading to weight gain) and the loneliness of being away from familiar social support as important factors increasing the risk of eating disorder onset . In addition, thinness was seen by some respondents as a “commodity” to bring home .…”

“…For example, in their qualitative interviews with Czech au pairs living abroad, researchers highlighted difficulties with adjusting to the host culture (e.g., fattier foods leading to weight gain) and the loneliness of being away from familiar social support as important factors increasing the risk of eating disorder onset . In addition, thinness was seen by some respondents as a “commodity” to bring home . More broadly, exposure to Western popular culture — where thin bodies, strict management of weight, and an ethos of working on the body are strongly valued—may lead to an increased risk of eating disorders in sojourners.…”

“…Studies of this culture‐change hypothesis have generally returned supportive evidence. For example, in a qualitative study of Czech au pairs, it was found that sojourning abroad was an important factor in developing an eating disorder . Likewise, migration from Mexico to the United States has been associated with increased risk for binge eating disorder and the prevalence of disordered eating is generally elevated in migrants .…”

“…For example, in a qualitative study of Czech au pairs, it was found that sojourning abroad was an important factor in developing an eating disorder. 8 Likewise, migration from Mexico to the United States has been associated with increased risk for binge eating disorder 9 and the prevalence of disordered eating is generally elevated in migrants. 10,11 Cross-sectional studies have also suggested that female migrants to the United Kingdom (UK) have greater body image disturbance than women in the country of origin.…”