Understanding the experience of ambivalence in anorexia nervosa: the maintainer's perspective
Understanding the experience of ambivalence in anorexia nervosa: the maintainer's perspective
People with anorexia often feel ambivalent about whether they wish to maintain it or recover from it. One place where individuals can communicate their experiences of wanting to maintain their anorexia is through pro-anorexia websites. This study investigated the experiences and understandings of those who wish to maintain their anorexia and looked at how these understandings may affect their treatment experiences.
Data were collected online and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Anorexia denoted meanings of a 'tool', an 'entity' and a 'disease'. Participants felt ambivalent about whether their anorexia gave them control or controlled them, whether it played a positive or negative role and whether they wished to maintain their behaviours or recover. Participants also discussed barriers to recovery. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed.
anorexia nervosa, pro-anorexia, ambivalence, online, qualitative research
551-568
Williams, Sarah
f98f47db-b1d6-42c2-b0eb-7c0cb9a981d0
Reid, Marie
9c3c9f80-277f-43b8-ac8c-29f9c527e196
2010
Williams, Sarah
f98f47db-b1d6-42c2-b0eb-7c0cb9a981d0
Reid, Marie
9c3c9f80-277f-43b8-ac8c-29f9c527e196
Williams, Sarah and Reid, Marie
(2010)
Understanding the experience of ambivalence in anorexia nervosa: the maintainer's perspective.
Psychology and Health, 25 (5), .
(doi:10.1080/08870440802617629).
Abstract
People with anorexia often feel ambivalent about whether they wish to maintain it or recover from it. One place where individuals can communicate their experiences of wanting to maintain their anorexia is through pro-anorexia websites. This study investigated the experiences and understandings of those who wish to maintain their anorexia and looked at how these understandings may affect their treatment experiences.
Data were collected online and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Anorexia denoted meanings of a 'tool', an 'entity' and a 'disease'. Participants felt ambivalent about whether their anorexia gave them control or controlled them, whether it played a positive or negative role and whether they wished to maintain their behaviours or recover. Participants also discussed barriers to recovery. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed.
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Published date: 2010
Keywords:
anorexia nervosa, pro-anorexia, ambivalence, online, qualitative research
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Local EPrints ID: 148491
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/148491
PURE UUID: af37e7e2-2557-45c4-b64b-69c577cb3093
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Date deposited: 28 Apr 2010 10:07
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:03
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Author:
Sarah Williams
Author:
Marie Reid
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