Preliminary examination of a mentor-based program for eating disorders

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a current and pressing need for recovery resources for individuals suffering from eating disorders. Mentoring programs have been useful with other psychiatric disorders such as addictions, and may be useful for individuals recovering from an eating disorder. The present study sought to examine a mentoring program for individuals working towards recovery from an eating disorder.MethodsThe study included mentors (i.e., individuals who have recovered from an eating disorder for an extended period of time), and mentees (i.e., individuals who were in the process of recovering from an eating disorder and wanting additional support aside from their treatment team). Participants included 141 participants, consisting of 34 mentors, 58 mentees who matched with a mentor, and 49 mentees searching for a mentor. Participants completed questions assessing eating disorder symptoms, quality of life, motivation towards recovery, and treatment compliance.ResultsMatched mentees reported higher levels of quality of life on 7 out of 12 domains, and missed fewer appointments with treatment providers when compared to unmatched mentees. There were no differences between matched and unmatched mentees on motivation, energy or confidence towards recovery.ConclusionsFindings suggest a mentor model is beneficial for individuals engaged in the process of recovering from an eating disorder in the areas of quality of life and treatment compliance. Specifically, mentees in a mentoring relationship reported better family and close relationships, future outlook, and psychological, emotional, and physical well-being than unmatched mentees. Mentors reported being positively impacted by the mentoring relationship by strengthening the skills they learned while in recovery, and reminding them of how far they had come in their own recovery. The findings in this study suggest that mentor programs warrant further investigation as ancillary support services for individuals recovering from an eating disorder.

Instilling hope for a brighter future: A mixed‐method mentoring support programme for individuals with and recovered from anorexia nervosa

“…In accordance with the findings of others (Lippi, ; Perez et al., ), this mentoring programme revealed the altruistic motivation of mentors to use their lived experience to help others and affirmed the transformation they have made in their own lives (Fogarty et al., ). Like Perez et al.…”

“…In accordance with the findings of others (Lippi, 2000;Perez et al, 2014), this mentoring programme revealed the altruistic motivation of mentors to use their lived experience to help others and affirmed the transformation they have made in their own lives . Like Perez et al (2014), our mentors described intrinsic rewards from the mentoring relationship and particularly that it confirmed their own recovery and healthy thought processes (Perez et al, 2014). Notwithstanding the challenges involved with being a mentor, the benefits far outweighed these by validating their own recovery, their redefined thought processes, their repertoire of coping skills and practical advice as a recovered person, further enhancing their own self-worth.…”

“…Like Perez et al. (), our mentors described intrinsic rewards from the mentoring relationship and particularly that it confirmed their own recovery and healthy thought processes (Perez et al., ). Notwithstanding the challenges involved with being a mentor, the benefits far outweighed these by validating their own recovery, their redefined thought processes, their repertoire of coping skills and practical advice as a recovered person, further enhancing their own self‐worth.…”

“…Mentoring in eating disorders has generally been preventative, assisting with self‐esteem and body image (Lippi, ; McCarroll, ; McVey et al., ; Perez, Kroon Van Diest, & Cutts, ). This mentoring programme set out to improve quality of life by treating individuals as more than a person with an eating disorder, listening respectively to their stories, avoiding judgement and providing a connection to a non‐eating disorder treatment environment.…”

“…Mentoring in eating disorders has generally been preventative, assisting with self-esteem and body image (Lippi, 2000;McCarroll, 2012;McVey et al, 2010;Perez, Kroon Van Diest, & Cutts, 2014).…”