University students' understanding and opinions of eating disorders: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Eating disorders (EDs) affect 1.25 million people in the UK. Evidence suggests the public display stigma and poor mental health literacy (MHL) towards EDs. There is a high prevalence of EDs in university populations, so it is important to determine the MHL of this at-risk group. Qualitative research exploring the MHL of this population is incomplete.

Objective

Explore university students' beliefs and opinions of EDs, their knowledge of symptoms, treatment and help sources and how these are influenced by biological sex.

Design

A qualitative study, using semistructured interviews analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Setting

The University of Birmingham.

Participants

Seven female and seven male University of Birmingham students.

Results

SUBMITTER: Manning M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9344994 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature