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New, Elizabeth
(1999).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0000f71e
Abstract
Objectives:-This study attempts to address the lack of systemic research on over-eaters. By focusing on women’s perceptions, the study aims to develop understanding of the significance that early and ongoing relationship patterns have on their experience of over-eating.
Method:- Twelve women participated, all had been referred to an Eating disorder unit and had received individual or group intervention. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. The interviews aimed to gain an understanding of women's perceptions of their early and ongoing relationships, perceived level of support in significant relationships (other than family) and relationship with food.
Results:- Grounded theory was used to analyse the participants’ responses. Codes, categories and themes were generated from the collected data.
Conclusions and implications:- A tentative theoretical framework was developed from the participants’ responses to the research questions. The data suggest that women perceive their early and ongoing relationship with their mother as compliant in nature. It also suggests that their father was physically and/or emotionally absent. Additionally, women perceived that in the early family environment there was a high focus on food. Six women also perceived a lack of emotional support from their partners and sought food to comfort themselves. Eight women attributed their early eating behaviour to
their difficult relationships with their father or mother.
An integrative framework has been proposed to account for the data. Clinically, the results indicate that a systemic understanding and intervention should be considered when working with this client group. The researcher has addressed ethical and transference issues, methodological and conceptual issues and suggested ideas for future research.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
