Influential factors in the development and maintenance of eating disorders

This thesis examined influential factors in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. The first chapter investigated homosexuality as a predisposing factor in the development of anorexia and bulimia nervosa in males by considering the published literature on this subject. The implications of the role of homosexual culture in the treatment of males with eating disorders are examined. The main study used techniques from grounded theory to examine the subjective experiences of women with anorexia and bulimia nervosa regarding the influence of media in the development and maintenance of their disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine women and data collection and analysis were carded out until a point of saturation was reached. A model was developed to explain the relationship between media influence and eating disorder development and maintenance. Clinical implications and avenues of further research were explored. The brief paper examined the stories of women with anorexia and bulimia nervosa about the development of their eating disorder using narrative analysis techniques. Three semi-structured interviews were analysed and the ways in which the women made sense of their eating disorders were examined. Clinical implications were also discussed. The final chapter explored the researcher's reflections on the research process focusing on methodological considerations and personal reflections of the researcher.