Dataset Information

Seeing Through the Facade of Anorexia: A Grounded Theory of Emotional Change Processes Associated With Recovery From Anorexia Nervosa.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Difficulties in managing emotions have been implicated in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN), and psychological treatment models seek to address this in putative targets of change. Yet the field of psychotherapy remains unclear and insufficiently evidenced about the process of change and how this is actually achieved, including in what steps and in what order within clinical treatment. This qualitative study sought to develop theory about the process of emotional change during recovery from anorexia.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine women currently engaged in psychological treatment for anorexia. Interviews included questions pertaining to participants' experience of anorexia, emotions, and emotion management. A constructivist version of grounded theory was employed.

Results

The analysis produced 10 major categories, comprising over 60 focused codes. Categories were clustered together into three super categories, reflecting 3 distinct but interrelated phases of participants' journeys toward recovery. The phases were: (1) Coping in a world of uncertainty, (2) Seeing through the façade of anorexia, and (3) Recovery and growth. Whilst movement toward later positions often appeared to be contingent on earlier ones, the analysis suggests that this was not an entirely linear process and that participants moved between positions as they grappled with the process of change. Participants came to view behaviors associated with anorexia as emotion-management strategies that were not working and as a façade. As they moved toward recovery and growth, they became less confined by their need for safety, and to see emotions as meaningful and valuable. Becoming more connected to emotional experience and expression, coincided with positive shifts in their intra and interpersonal relationships.

Conclusion

These findings support the recent shift toward emotion-focused models of anorexia. They also highlight an important focus in supporting individuals with AN to connect with, and be guided by, emotional experiences in their relationships with themselves and the world around them. This new grounded theory offers a putative process of change that could be utilized to guide intervention development.

SUBMITTER: Drinkwater D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9263079 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundUnderstanding motivation to change is a key issue in both the assessment and the treatment of eating disorders. Therefore, sound instruments assessing this construct are of great help to clinicians. Accordingly, the present study analysed the psychometric properties of the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ), including its relation to coping style and self-esteem.MethodsN = 92 adolescents referred to an eating disorders outpatient clinic meeting criteria for anorexia nervosa gave written informed consent to participate in this study and completed the ANSOCQ, the Eating Disorder Inventory, the Eating Attitudes Test, the Body Image Questionnaire, two questionnaires measuring Self-Related Cognitions and the Coping Across Situations Questionnaire. After a treatment period of nine months, clinical anorexia nervosa diagnosis and the body mass index were re-assessed. In addition to exploratory factor analysis, correlational analysis was used to test for the convergent validity of the ANSOCQ and logistic regression analysis was used to test its predictive validity.ResultsThe ANSOCQ had good psychometric properties. Factor analysis yielded two meaningful factors labelled as 'weight gain and control' and 'attitudes and feelings'. Internal consistencies of the two factors amounted to Cronbach's alpha = .87 and .76, respectively. Significant correlations with other scales measuring eating disorder psychopathology were indicative of meaningful construct validity. Higher motivation to change was related to higher self-esteem and a more active coping style. Higher (positive) ANSOCQ total scores predicted remission of anorexia nervosa after nine months of treatment. A higher score on 'attitudes and feelings' was a protective factor against drop-out from intervention.ConclusionsThe ANSOCQ is a clinically useful instrument for measuring motivation to change in adolescents with AN. Two factorial dimensions explain most of the variation. Self-esteem and coping style are relevant additional constructs for the understanding of the motivation to change in anorexia nervosa.Trial registrationNCT02828956. Retrospectively registered July 2016.