Family, Friends, and Romantic Partners of Eating Disorder Sufferers

Abstract

Individuals who reported having a friend, family member, or romantic partner with current eating disorder symptoms ( n = 82) participated in this study. Participants documented the types of spiritual/religious coping strategies they used when coping with the stress of being close to an eating disorder sufferer. Following correlation analyses, we found a significant association between two types of negative spiritual/religious coping (spiritual discontent religious coping and punishing God/Higher Power reappraisal religious coping) and increased depression. In a regression analysis, only spiritual discontent religious coping remained significantly linked with depression. Clinicians who work with clients who are close to eating disorder sufferers can draw on these findings to inform therapeutic interventions.