Top

Gepubliceerd in:

05-01-2023 | Original Paper

Caring for Sons with Anorexia: The Perspective of Mothers

Auteurs: Jessica Lennon Whitney, Merle A. Keitel, Melinda Parisi Cummings, Joseph G. Ponterotto, Erin Ott

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 9/2023

Abstract

Little is known about the experience of caring for a son with anorexia nervosa (AN). Prior research with parents of primarily daughters with AN indicate that they experience significant distress. Ten mothers participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences taking care of a son (between the ages of 11 and 18) who had inpatient treatment for AN within 2 years of the interview and was residing at home. Consensual qualitative research methods were used to analyze the data. Mothers reported challenges accessing and navigating treatment, noting that front-line providers missed their sons’ AN because of their gender. Once their sons were diagnosed, mothers continued to experience distress and described negative changes in family relationships, including increased conflict with the diagnosed son, strained sibling relationships, and marital stress. The gender-atypical nature of AN negatively impacted perceived social support. Despite these negative findings, living with AN also offered an opportunity for growth, with some mothers reporting increased closeness with the diagnosed son, greater family unification, and strengthening of the marital bond. Based on these findings, it is recommended that treatment professionals provide greater psychological support and resources to mothers, who often assume primary caregiver responsibilities, and make treatment settings and approaches more gender inclusive.

vorige artikel “I have a Ph.D. in my daughter”: Mother and Child Experiences of Living with Childhood Chronic Illness

volgende artikel Alexithymia in a Self Determination Theory Framework: The interplay of Psychological Basic Needs, Parental Autonomy Support and Psychological Control

Alleen toegankelijk voor geautoriseerde gebruikers

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.

American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060–1073.CrossRef

Anastasiadou, D., Sepulveda, A. R., Sánchez, J. C., Parks, M., Álvarez, T., & Graell, M. (2016). Family functioning and quality of life among families in eating disorders: a comparison with substance-related disorders and healthy controls. European Eating Disorders Review, 24(4), 294–303. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2440.CrossRefPubMed

Andersen, A. (2014). A brief history of eating disorders in males. In L. Cohn & R. Lemberg (Eds), Current findings on males with eating disorders (pp. 4–10). Routledge.

Barry, S. (2013). Dying to be perfect: a mother’s story of her son’s battle with anorexia. KCM Publishing.

Bunkley, D. T., Robinson, J. D., Bennett, N. E., & Gordon, S. (2000). Breast cancer in men: emasculation by association? Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 7, 91–97.CrossRef

Bunnell, D. W., & Maine, M. (2014). Understanding and treating males with eating disorders. In L. Cohn & R. Lemberg (Eds), Current findings on males with eating disorders (pp. 168–182). Routledge.

Cohn, L., & Lemberg, R. (Eds.). (2014). Current findings on males with eating disorders. Routledge.

Domine, F., Berchtold, A., Akre, C., Michaud, P. A., & Suris, J. C. (2009). Disordered eating behaviors: what about boys. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44, 111–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.07.019.CrossRef

Eisler, I. (2009). Anorexia nervosa and the family. In J. H. Bray & M. Stanton (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of family psychology (pp. 551–563). John Wiley & Sons.

Fox, J. R. E., Dean, M., & Whittlesea, A. (2017). The experience of caring for or living with an individual with an eating disorder: a meta‐synthesis of qualitative studies. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24(1), 103–125. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1984.CrossRef

Goodier, G. H. G., McCormack, J., Egan, S. J., Watson, H. J., Hoiles, K. J., Todd, G., & Treasure, J. L. (2014). Parent skills training treatment for parents of children and adolescents with eating disorders: a qualitative study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(4), 368–375. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22224.CrossRefPubMed

Gorrell, S., & Murray, S. B. (2019). Eating disorders in males. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 28(4), 641–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.05.012.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Gueguen, J., Godart, N., Chambry, J., Brun-Eberentz, A., Foulon, C., Divac, S. M., & Huas, C. (2012). Severe anorexia nervosa in men: comparison with severe AN in women and analysis of mortality. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 45, 537–545. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20987.CrossRefPubMed

Haigh, R., & Treasure, J. (2003). Investigating the needs of the carers in the area of eating disorders: development of the carers’ needs assessment measure (CaNAM). European Eating Disorders Review, 11, 125–141. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.487.CrossRef

Hill, C. E. (Ed.). (2011). Consensual qualitative research: a practical resource for investigating social science phenomena. American Psychological Association.

Hill, C. E., & Knox, S. (2021). Essentials of consensual qualitative research. American Psychological Association. http://dx.doi.org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1037/0000215-000.

Hill, C. E., Knox, S., Thompson, B. J., Williams, E. N., Hess, S. A., & Ladaney, N. (2005). Consensual qualitative research: an update. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 196–205. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.196.CrossRef

Karp, S., Keitel, S., Houtz, J., & Jackson, M. (2016). Hidden biases of psychological clinicians against mothers of daughters with anorexia nervosa. Poster, American Psychological Association, Denver.

Keitel, M. A., Parisi, M., Whitney, J. L., & Stack, L. F. (2010). Salient stressors for mothers of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 18, 435–444. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2010.511937.CrossRef

Kyriacou, O., Treasure, J., & Schmidt, U. (2008). Understanding how parents cope with living with someone with anorexia nervosa: modeling the factors that are associated with carer distress. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 41, 233–242. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20488.CrossRefPubMed

Le Grange, D., Lock, J., Loeb, K., & Nicholls, D. (2010). Academy for eating disorders position paper: the role of the family in eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20751.CrossRefPubMed

Matthews, A., Lenz, K. R., Peugh, J., Copps, E. C., & Peterson, C. M. (2018). Caregiver burden and illness perceptions in caregivers of medically hospitalized youth with anorexia nervosa. Eating Behaviors, 29, 14–18.CrossRefPubMed

Murray, S. B., Nagata, J. M., Griffiths, S., Calzo, J. P., Brown, T. A., Mitchison, D., Blashill, A. J., & Mond, J. M. (2017). The enigma of male eating disorders: a critical review and synthesis. Clinical Psychology Review, 57, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.08.001.CrossRefPubMed

Murray, S. B., & Touyz, S. W. (2013). How do clinicians in the field conceptualize muscle dysmorphia? Advances in Eating Disorders: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1, 207–212.CrossRef

Nagata, J. M., Brown, T. A., Lavender, J. M., & Murray, S. B. (2021). Eating disorders in boys and men. Springer.

Pasold, T. L., Boateng, B. A., & Portilla, M. G. (2010). The use of a parent support group in the outpatient treatment of children and adolescents with eating disorders. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 18(4), 318–332. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2010.490121.CrossRef

Quadflieg, N., Strobel, C., Naab, S., Voderholzer, U., & Fichter, M. M. (2019). Mortality in males for an eating disorder: a large prospective study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52, 1365–1369.CrossRefPubMed

Richardson, C., & Paslakis, G. (2020). Men’s experiences of eating disorder treatment: a qualitative systematic review of men-only studies. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 28, 237–250.CrossRefPubMed

Ridout, S. (2016). Update: teenage boys with EDs have higher psychiatric burden. Eating Disorders Review, 27. Retrieved from http://eatingdisordersreview.com/teenage-boys-with-eds-have-a-high-psychiatric-burden/.

Rosen, D. S. (2010). Identification and management of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 126, 1240–1253. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-2821.CrossRefPubMed

Sabel, A. L., Rosen, E., & Mehler, P. S. (2014). Severe anorexia nervosa in males: clinical presentations and medical treatment. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 22, 209–220. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2014.890459.CrossRef

Sim, L. A., Homme, J. H., Lteif, A. N., Vande Voort, J. L., Schak, K. M., & Ellingson, J. (2009). Family functioning and maternal distress in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 42, 531–747. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20654.CrossRefPubMed

Sangha, S., Oliffe, J. L., Kelly, M. T., & McCuaig, F. (2019). Eating disorders in males: how primary care providers can improve recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. American Journal of Men’s Health, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988319857424.

Stein, R. E. K., & Jessop, D. J. (2003). The impact on Family Scale revisited: further psychometric data. Journal of Development and Behavioral Pediatrics, 24, 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004703-200302000-00004.CrossRef

Stillar, A., Strahan, E., Nash, P., Files, N., Scarborough, J., Mayman, S., Henderson, K., Gusella, J., Connors, L., Orr, E. S., Marchand, P., Dolhanty, J., & Lafrance Robinson, A. (2016). The influence of carer fear and self-blame when supporting a loved one with an eating disorder. Eating Disorders, 24(2), 173–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2015.1133210.CrossRefPubMed

Tierney, S. (2005). The treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa: a qualitative study of the views of parents. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 13, 369–379. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260591005254.CrossRef

Tuval-Mashiach, R., Hasson-Ohayon, I., & Ilan, A. (2014). Attacks on linking: stressors and identity challenges for mothers of daughters with long lasting anorexia nervosa. Psychology & Health, 29, 613–631. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2013.879135.CrossRef

Vo, M., Lau, J., & Rubinstein, M. (2016). Eating disorders in adolescent and young adult males: presenting characteristics. Journal of Adolescent Health, 59, 397–400.CrossRef

Whitney, J. L. (2015). Caring for a son with anorexia: the psychosocial impact on mothers. ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3713964. https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3713964.

Whitney, J., Haigh, R., Weinman, J., & Treasure, J. (2007). Caring for people with eating disorders: factors associated with psychological distress and negative caregiving appraisals in carers of people with eating disorders. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 413–428. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466507X173781.CrossRefPubMed

Williams, E. P., Russell-Mayhew, S., Moules, N. J., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2020). “My whole world fell apart”: Parents discovering their child has anorexia nervosa. Qualitative Health Research, 30(12), 1821–1832. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320939508.CrossRefPubMed

Wooldridge, T., & Lyte, P. (2012). An overview of anorexia nervosa in males. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 20, 268–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2012.715515.CrossRef

Titel: Caring for Sons with Anorexia: The Perspective of Mothers
Auteurs: Jessica Lennon Whitney
Merle A. Keitel
Melinda Parisi Cummings
Joseph G. Ponterotto
Erin Ott
Publicatiedatum: 05-01-2023
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 9/2023
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02525-5

Andere artikelen Uitgave 9/2023

Exploring the Links Between Parental Attachment Style, Child Temperament and Parent-Child Relationship Quality During Adolescence

Open Access
Original Paper

Adolescent Parents’ Intersecting Identities and Experiences: A Qualitative Examination of Adolescents’, Grandparents’, and School Staff’s Perspectives

Open Access
Original Paper

The Bidirectional Relationship between Supportive Parenting and Social Skills: A Longitudinal Study among Chinese Preschoolers

Original Paper

Supporting School Readiness by Bolstering Parents’ Perceived Social Norms

Original Paper

Examining predictors of school belonging using a socio-ecological perspective

Open Access
Original Paper

Parenting Deaf Children: Exploring Relationships Between Resolution of Diagnosis, Parenting Styles and Morale, and Perceived Child Vulnerability

Open Access
Original Paper