TY - JOUR
T1 - A content analysis of an online pro-eating disorder community on Reddit
AU - Sowles, Shaina J.
AU - McLeary, Monique
AU - Optican, Allison
AU - Cahn, Elizabeth
AU - Krauss, Melissa J.
AU - Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E.
AU - Wilfley, Denise E.
AU - Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health [grant number R01DA039456 ] and the National Institutes of Mental Health [grant number R21MH112331 ]. The funders had no involvement in the study design; the collection, analysis or interpretation of the data; the writing of the report; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - Pro-eating disorder communities provide a refuge for individuals with eating disorders (EDs) who are ambivalent about seeking treatment. We investigated a pro-ED community on Reddit, an anonymous social networking platform with topical forums, to identify expression of behaviors aligned with ED symptoms and support for these behaviors. A content analysis on four weeks of topic-specific discussion threads (N = 125 comments, 115 replies to comments) was conducted to identify behaviors consistent with ED psychopathology and support for these behaviors (informational, tangible assistance, esteem/emotional support). Results indicated that the content aligned with expressions of clinically relevant ED psychopathology, with eating concerns (49/125) and shape concerns (47/125) being most prevalent. The majority (92/115) of replies provided esteem/emotional support to the comment author. Online interventions and/or recovery programs are needed to counteract reinforcing dialogue that occurs on social media sites, like Reddit, and promote ED recovery through supportive messages on these platforms.
AB - Pro-eating disorder communities provide a refuge for individuals with eating disorders (EDs) who are ambivalent about seeking treatment. We investigated a pro-ED community on Reddit, an anonymous social networking platform with topical forums, to identify expression of behaviors aligned with ED symptoms and support for these behaviors. A content analysis on four weeks of topic-specific discussion threads (N = 125 comments, 115 replies to comments) was conducted to identify behaviors consistent with ED psychopathology and support for these behaviors (informational, tangible assistance, esteem/emotional support). Results indicated that the content aligned with expressions of clinically relevant ED psychopathology, with eating concerns (49/125) and shape concerns (47/125) being most prevalent. The majority (92/115) of replies provided esteem/emotional support to the comment author. Online interventions and/or recovery programs are needed to counteract reinforcing dialogue that occurs on social media sites, like Reddit, and promote ED recovery through supportive messages on these platforms.
KW - Content analysis
KW - Disordered eating
KW - Eating disorder symptoms
KW - Reddit
KW - Social media
KW - Social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042926970&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.01.001
DO - 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.01.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 29414146
AN - SCOPUS:85042926970
SN - 1740-1445
VL - 24
SP - 137
EP - 144
JO - Body Image
JF - Body Image
ER -