For women with anorexia nervosa, control and routine are important in managing distress and maintaining a sense of self in challenging situations. The transition to motherhood is characterised by change and uncertainty. Women may struggle to integrate the demands of anorexia alongside the challenges of motherhood. The aim of this thesis was to review the literature regarding the experiences of pregnancy and motherhood for women with eating disorders and develop a grounded theory of the transition to motherhood for women with anorexia nervosa. The literature regarding experiences of pregnancy and motherhood with an eating disorder was reviewed. The findings suggested a trend for remission of eating disorder symptoms in pregnancy followed by relapse during the postpartum period. Women with eating disorders were most likely to experience depression and anxiety during the later stages of pregnancy and postpartum. The review highlighted how eating disorders impacted on women's ability to embrace motherhood and bond with their children. There was a paucity of research exploring the lived experience of motherhood for women with specific eating difficulties, most notably anorexia. A grounded theory was informed by the experiences of eight mothers with anorexia. A core process of breaking the cycle highlighted how women were attempting to make lasting positive changes. They achieved this by protecting their children from anorexia, exploring new perspectives, setting a good example to their children and battling temptation to succumb to anorexia. This study provides a unique insight into the experiences of mothers with anorexia. In the final chapter the research process is reflected upon. It is hoped that these findings will influence clinical practice and help professionals to better understand women's experiences.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:629082 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Shead, Jennifer Louise |
| Publisher | Staffordshire University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/2014/ |
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