Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Research Paper

Department

Whittier Scholars Program

First Advisor

Lori Camparo

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the main, and one of the most common types of eating disorders among adolescent individuals, especially females. It is characterized by limited eating, increased amounts of physical activity, low self-esteem, and extreme criticism of oneself and one's body. An individual diagnosed with AN is greatly physically, mentally, and emotionally affected by it. However, an AN diagnosis also has a significant impact on the whole family. In recent years, the family has been incorporated into the treatment of an individual diagnosed with AN, which has shown to be effective in the recovery process and in reducing relapse incidences. Using a family systems framework, I reviewed a little over 20 scholarly peer reviewed articles to further investigate the impact of having a relative diagnosed with AN on the family as a whole. Having an individual with AN was found to have both adverse and positive effects stemming from shifts in family dynamics and relationships. Overall, parents and well-siblings experience physical and psychological distress as their new role of caregiver leads to increased internalizing behaviors, emotional difficulties and exhaustion, feelings of guilt, fear, and frustration. With their new role, well-siblings find themselves constantly conflicted and caught between their ill-siblings and the parents. Some of the positive effects of a diagnosis of AN in a family includes individual personal growth, increased family unity and solidarity, increased empathy, and increased knowledge of eating disorders. In addition to this research, a pamphlet was created with the goal of distributing it to the community and with the hope that it can help families feel understood when a relative is diagnosed with AN.

Comments

WSP major: Human Development and Health

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS