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Feminist-Informed Protective Factors for Subthreshold Eating Disorders
Emily C Wacker1,2, Megan L Dolbin-MacNab1
1Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Qualitative Health Research
|June 3, 2020
Summary
Women with subthreshold eating disorders utilize protective factors like social support and personal agency to manage their condition. These factors help them externalize the eating disorder and align decisions with their values.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Women's Health
Background:
- Sociocultural factors significantly influence eating disorder development.
- Research on protective factors for subthreshold eating disorders, particularly in women, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore protective factors that aid women with subthreshold eating disorders.
- To develop a model illustrating how these protective factors are utilized.
Main Methods:
- Feminist-informed constructivist grounded theory methodology.
- In-depth interviews with 15 women (ages 18-25) experiencing subthreshold eating disorders.
Main Results:
- Participants externalized their subthreshold eating disorders.
- Key protective factors identified: social support (emotional/tangible), challenging support, personal agency, and community involvement.
- Protective factors facilitated distinguishing personal values from the 'eating disorder voice'.
Conclusions:
- Subthreshold eating disorders in women can be managed using identified protective factors.
- These factors empower individuals to maintain agency and align actions with personal values.
- Findings offer implications for clinical practice and future research in eating disorder recovery.
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