The rates of eating disorders within the UK are ever growing, alongside a cultural attitude of normative discontent with our appearance. This thesis aims to explore resilience and overcoming difficulties around body image and Anorexia Nervosa. The review paper sought to define positive body image, identify its properties, how to promote it, and measure it. The literature review highlighted the dearth of studies that explicitly focus on positive body image as a multidimensional construct. In addition to this, the review illustrated the unique qualities of positive body image, de-constructing its current conceptualisation as merely the absence of negative body image. The review draws attention to the methodological and ideological flaws within the studies concerned. This has made defining positive body image, and subsequent exploration of its properties and measurement, an arduous task. The empirical paper describes a qualitative study using interviews with individuals who are substantially recovered from severe Anorexia Nervosa. Eight individual interviews were conducted across the North Wales region, and data were transcribed and analysed using a grounded theory approach. A tentative model of letting go was developed, demonstrating the factors that have contributed towards recovery. This model highlights the dynamic relationship between intra and interpersonal factors that help let go of Anorexia Nervosa. Findings are discussed in relation to previous findings and offers suggestions for future research. It is hoped that these two papers will contribute to existing lit~rature and inform clinical practice in the areas of promoting healthy body image and ensuring better outcomes for those suffering with 'difficult to treat' Anorexia Nervosa.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:664597 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Robinson, Nicola C. |
| Publisher | Bangor University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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