Author(s): Rachel Denton, Steven Muncer and Lynne Howey
Background: Anorexia Nervosa is a severe mental illness most commonly occurring during adolescence. As a parent, caring for a child with Anorexia Nervosa can quickly consume all aspects of family life, leading to frustration, feelings of burden and increased levels of anxiety and depression. Despite the impact of the illness on parents, there is a surprising lack of literature drawing on parents perspectives of recovery, particularly during adolescence. Objective: To gather the lived experience of parents caring for an adolescent daughter throughout recovery from Anorexia Nervosa. Method: Eight participants, seven mothers and one father, were recruited from two specialist outpatient eating disorder services. All parents had an adolescent daughter between the ages of fourteen and eighteen in recovery from Anorexia Nervosa. The study used a qualitative design and the research lead completed semi structured interviews with each of the eight parents. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Analysis of the data revealed one overarching super-ordinate theme, ‘a journey to recovery’ encompassing a further four super-ordinate themes. The four super-ordinate themes included “a secret exposed,” “anorexia is tearing our family apart,” “how do we get our daughter back?” and “accessing help.” The results of the analysis are discussed in line with relevant theory and ideas for clinical practice are highlighted. Conclusion: The current study highlighted the invasion of Anorexia Nervosa and its ability to tear the family apart. The study emphasises the adolescents need for emotional support throughout recovery but highlights the difficulties for parents due to the adolescents stage of development, their strive for independence and reluctance to accept their difficulties.
