Abstract

RIVERA CASTANEDA, Leticia Adriana; ANDRADE PALOS, Patricia; RIVERA HEREDIA, María Elena  and  UNIKEL SANTONCINI, Claudia. Parents’ and daughters’ perception of family aspects associated with the onset of an eating disorder. Rev. Mex. de trastor. aliment [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.1, pp.71-81. ISSN 2007-1523.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fesi.20071523e.2018.1.484.

The purpose of this study was to identify and comprehend the family aspects associated to the development of an eating disorder (ED), from the point of view of parents with daughters diagnosed with an ED and women diagnosed with an ED. It is a qualitative study where a semi structured interview was used that gathered information about familial support, emotional expression, familial cohesion, problem solving, stressful life events and life cycle transitions, criticism about eating, body shape and weight. The sample comprised nine participants: five parents with daughters diagnosed with an ED, and four women with an ED. A content analysis derived two categories: Difficulties in rearing practices, and Parent’s negative attitudes towards daughters eating, shape and weight. Parents showed difficulty with rearing practices during their daughter’s childhood and adolescence that hindered the identification of the beginning of the ED. Parents also demonstrated affect by expressing approbation words when their daughters were slim and skipped this same expression for those who weren’t. Both aspects were related to the development of an ED. In conclusion, it is highlighted the importance of considering familial aspects in the prevention of ED.

Keywords : Eating disorders; Body dissatisfaction; Parental practices; Familial influences; Qualitative methodology.

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