Happy to write
Do writing assignments have a positive effect on the feelings of young people with an eating disorder?
It is sometimes said that you can get something off your chest by writing it down. This is precisely what we are researching in this initial study of how writing influences the mood of young people with an eating disorder.
Background
Appreciating what your body can do is an important aspect of having a positive body image. Thinking about this consciously could be a tool for young people with an eating disorder who have a negative body image. This study explored whether writing assignments about your body and what it can do for you have a positive effect on the feelings of young people with an eating disorder. The aim is to improve the future treatment of eating disorders.
The research study
There were 58 girls included in the study. The research study comprised of short questionnaires and small computer-based writing assignments from the ‘Expand your horizon’ protocol. The questionnaires included questions about how the young person is feeling and her thoughts about her body. The writing assignments focused on what a young person can do with her body, and on observing and describing details. If the young person wanted, she could choose to follow an additional number of ‘Expand your horizon’ sessions after the end of the research study.
Results
After the intervention participants scored higher on questions associated with a positive body image. No effect was found on questions regarding a negative body image. These results indicate that writing about what your body can do for you has a direct effect on a positive body image. Future studies should investigate the influence of multiple ‘Expand your horizon’ sessions and the effects of this on the longer term.
Collaboration
This study is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Maastricht.
All of our research studies on nutrition and eating disorders involve collaboration with the Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology at the University of Groningen. This takes place within the academic research group on nutrition disorders, eating disorders & obesity.