Emotions and eating disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of emotional sensitivity, family, and peer characteristics in eating disorders
IRAS ID
196578
Contact name
Zipporah Henderson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 29 days
Research summary
What is the role of emotional sensitivity, family, and peer characteristics in eating disorders?
There is evidence to suggest that emotional, social, and psychological factors may be involved in the onset and course of eating disorders (Torres et al., 2011;Fox & Power, 2009; Hatch et al.2010; Treasure & Schmidt, 2013; Duclos et al., 2014). The proposed research aims to consider the relationship between emotional sensitivity (contagion) and eating disorders and how social factors including family expressed emotions and the quality of peer relationships affect this relationship amongst patients with eating disorders. Adult patients of all ages with a clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, will be invited to participate. Two studies using two separate research designs will be conducted. The first study will utilize a questionnaire design and involve participants completing a series of questionnaires on emotions, family expressed emotion and the quality of peer relationships which should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete. This study will aim to recruit approximately 60 participants. The second study will utilize qualitative interviews to gain further insight into the variables considered in the first study and how these variables may influence the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. This study aims to recruit approximately 15 participants, where individuals from the first study will be invited to participate in an interview lasting up to one hour. The studies will recruit participants from an eating disorder unit in the NHS, BEAT, social media and Manchester University. This research is part of the researcher’s PhD project, which is being funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council. It is hoped that the knowledge gained from these studies will help improve intervention programmes for individuals with eating disorders.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0059
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion