Being parents of individuals with eating disorders: a qualitative study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54103/dn/31265Keywords:
Eating disorders, qualitative research, parents, family, resilienceAbstract
BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) are severe mental health conditions that substantially impair physical health and psychosocial functioning, affecting not only individuals living with the disorder but also their families. Parents play a pivotal role in the early recognition of symptoms and in supporting their children throughout treatment. However, the experiences of parents caring for a child with an eating disorder remain underexplored.
AIM: To describe the experiences of parents of individuals with eating disorders in order to better understand the impact of these conditions on the entire family and inform family-centred care.
METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine parents of individuals receiving treatment at an Eating Disorders Service in north-eastern Italy. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed manually.
RESULTS: Five main themes were identified: (1) Becoming aware of early warning signs: the challenge of recognising the early manifestations of the disorder; (2) Daily family reorganisation and social isolation; (3) Survival strategies; (4) Co-constructing care with healthcare professionals and the value of peer support; and (5) Parents' emotional challenges, vulnerability, and hope. Despite experiencing considerable psychological distress, parents demonstrated resilience throughout the caregiving journey.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need for an integrated, family-centred approach that actively involves parents throughout the care pathway. Recognising and supporting caregivers may contribute to improved treatment outcomes and enhance the well-being of the entire family.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Roberta Anello, Corinna Michelin, Rosanna Caruso, Giuseppina Graceffa, Chiara Creatti
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Accepted 2026-07-20
Published 2026-07-31
