The positive coping experiences of women with bulimia

• Author / Creator

  Poirier, Kathryn F.

• Bulimia nervosa (BN) affects nearly 1% of women in North America. Literature suggests that women with BN engage in binging and purging as a means of coping with negative emotions and experiences. What has yet to be explored, however, is how women with BN cope with difficult emotions in positive ways, without binging and purging. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand, from the perspective of participants, the positive coping experiences and stories of women with BN. During semi-structured interviews with 6 participants, women described their experiences of positive coping. Using a narrative analysis methodology, women’s experiences were described through individual narratives and common themes. Main themes that emerged were behavioural redirecting, constructive internal dialogue, social support, and self-awareness. These findings contribute an important understanding of the strengths of women with BN and may help inform strengths-based approaches to working with this population.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Narrative therapy
  • Exceptions
  • Bulimia
  • Resilience
  • Positive coping

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Education

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3097M

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.