Self-Disclosure by Adolescents with eating difficulties
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Self-Disclosure by Adolescents with eating difficulties: A Q methodology study
IRAS ID
270872
Contact name
Rhiannon Dunlop
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study will explore what influences self-disclosure in young people with eating difficulties. Self-disclosure is defined as being able to communicate and share personal meanings, feelings and experiences about oneself to another person.
It is hoped that by understanding more about the barriers to self disclosure in adolescents with eating difficulties as well as what promotes it, recommendations can be made on how self disclosure can be promoted as well as inform the development of more effective early interventions. Given that adolescence is a time of multiple transitions and identity formation, understanding the role eating difficulties and disclosure plays during this time would help to inform early interventions and recovery rates.
Participants will be recruited from NHS CAMHS sites, BEAT, Young Minds and University of Surrey. Participants can be of either gender and between the ages of 16-19. They will also need to gave engaged in some form of psychological therapy at some point during the course of their eating difficulties. They will also need to have completed a minimum of 2 intervention sessions.
Data Collection will be carried out over 6 months. Participants recruited from CAMHS will undergo a face to face task using Q-methodology. This involves participants completing a sorting task where they will be asked to rank opinion cards on a grid in terms of how likely each opinion is to influence their decision to disclose information about their eating difficulties. Example statements are "Feeling ashamed", "Not knowing how to talk about it", "Not wanting to change", "Wanting to be perfect". While completing this task participants may be asked questions about how they have ranked each opinion card. Participants recruited through charities will be sent a pack and complete the task independently at home and qualitative data will be obtained through written responses to questions.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0624
Date of REC Opinion
10 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion