Table 3 The Perceived Influence of Quality of Life on Eating Disorder Development and Recovery
From: Quality of life as a vulnerability and recovery factor in eating disorders: a community-based study
Quality of life domain | … as a vulnerability factor | … as a recovery factor |
|---|---|---|
Mental Wellbeing | • Coping with stress through binge eating • Competing demands leading to restriction and binge eating • Loss of control leading to restriction | • Competing priorities leading to reduced weight/shape preoccupation • Reduced stress creating space to address symptoms • Perspective and self-acceptance leading to reduced overvaluation |
Physical Health | • Weight gain and obesity leading to body image disturbance and both restrictive and bulimic behaviours • Menopause coped with through restriction and binge eating • Pain coped with through binge eating | • Prioritising physical health over appearance leading to reduced eating disorder behaviours • Becoming aware of the negative physical effects of the eating disorder leading to increased motivation to recover • Mortality shock/near-death experience leading to reduced overvaluation of weight/shape |
Intimate | • Weight-related teasing from partner leading to eating disorder symptoms • Coping with neglect from partner through binge eating • Coping with over-controlling partner through restriction | • Acceptance from a loving partner leading to self-acceptance and reduced symptoms • Role modelling of a healthy relationship with body and food from partner leading to adoption of similar attitudes |
Family | • Role-modelling of negative body image and dieting from mother leading to body image disturbance, restriction, and binge eating • Family overconsumption leading to obesity and poor body image • Family role-modelling the use of food to self-soothe leading to binge eating | • Desire to be a positive role model to own children as motivation to address symptoms • Support from family as an encouragement to address symptoms |
Social | • Weight-related teasing from peers leading to symptoms • Validation from peers leading to maintenance of restriction • Mirroring of unhealthy attitudes and behaviours of friends/peers | • Development of new friendship groups with healthier attitudes leading to adoption of similar attitudes • Suggestion from friends to make positive changes • Support from others with mental illness to seek help • Gaining sense of fulfilment through social connection after a period of social isolation |
Work/study | • Work overload resulting in restriction due to lack of time • Work overload resulting in stress resulting in self-soothing through binge eating | • Feeling productive and enjoying study and work leading to reduced stress and reduced binge eating |
Finances | • Poor financial situation leading to gaining sense of control through restriction • Poor financial situation leading to poorer food choices, resulting in weight gain and body image disturbance | • Gaining financial stability leading to increased sense of control and reduced need for restriction to provide this |
Leisure | • Symptoms arising from pressure to maintain ideal body shape for leisure activities, including modelling and dance | • Life modelling for drawing classes and engagement in contemporary dance leading to greater appreciation of diverse body shapes |