Fairclough, Meg;
(2024)
Looking into the rabbit hole: an exploration of the experiences of adults who had an eating disorder whilst in school and the role that teachers and Educational Psychologists may have in offering support.
Doctoral thesis (D.Ed.Psy), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This study aimed to explore the experiences of adults who had an eating disorder whilst in school, focusing on the role that teachers and Educational Psychologists may have in offering support. Using a cross-sectional design, the research used both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection across two phases. In Phase 1, an online questionnaire was completed by 133 educational professionals working in Greater London, revealing a notable lack of confidence amongst Educational Psychologists and teachers in effectively supporting young people with eating disorders. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adults, who navigated eating disorders during their schooling. Reflexive Thematic Analysis of interview data identified five overarching themes: ‘Academic and Cognitive Functioning at School’, ‘Social Dynamics and Relationships at School’, ‘Emotional Wellbeing at School’, ‘Awareness, Recognition and Education about Eating Disorders’, and ‘Systemic and Individual Roles in Supporting Eating Disorders’. The study found that the experience of school for individuals who had an eating disorder was varied and multifaceted, with participants sharing diverse perspectives on the impact their eating disorder had on them, whilst in an educational setting. Participants also provided insights into the ways in which educational professionals could better support children and young people with eating disorders at school, based on their own experiences. Overall, this study contributes to bridging the gap between research and practice, by providing valuable understandings into effectively supporting students with eating disorders in educational settings.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | D.Ed.Psy |
| Title: | Looking into the rabbit hole: an exploration of the experiences of adults who had an eating disorder whilst in school and the role that teachers and Educational Psychologists may have in offering support |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10196106 |
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