'My teacher saved my life' versus 'Teachers don't have a clue': an online survey of pupils' experiences of eating disorders

Pooky Knightsmith; Helen Sharpe; Olivia Breen; Janet Treasure; Ulrike Schmidt

doi:10.1111/camh.12027

'My teacher saved my life' versus 'Teachers don't have a clue': an online survey of pupils' experiences of eating disorders

Pooky Knightsmith^*, Helen Sharpe, Olivia Breen, Janet Treasure, Ulrike Schmidt

^*Corresponding author for this work

King's College London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

Eating disorders (ED) have a peak rate of onset in school-aged children. Little is known about pupils' experiences of ED within a school setting.

Method

Five hundred and eleven 11- to 19-year-old school pupils completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences of ED (72% female, 28% male). Responses were analysed using content analysis principles.

Results

Of the participants, 38% had a current or past ED, 49% of these had never received a formal diagnosis. Of the respondents, 59% saw a need to raise ED awareness. Only 7% would confide in a teacher about an ED.

Conclusions

Efforts are needed to break down barriers to disclosure and support teachers to play an effective role in the detection and early intervention for ED.

Original language	English
Article number	N/A
Pages (from-to)	131-137
Number of pages	7
Journal	Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Volume	19
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12027
Publication status	Published - May 2014

Keywords

school
teacher
bulimia
Anorexia
eating disorders
binge-eating disorder
MENTAL-HEALTH LITERACY
BULIMIA-NERVOSA
ANOREXIA-NERVOSA
ADOLESCENT GIRLS
BODY-IMAGE
PREVALENCE
CARERS
INTERVENTION
INFORMATION
PERCEPTIONS

Access to Document

10.1111/camh.12027

Cite this

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title = "'My teacher saved my life' versus 'Teachers don't have a clue': an online survey of pupils' experiences of eating disorders",

abstract = "BackgroundEating disorders (ED) have a peak rate of onset in school-aged children. Little is known about pupils' experiences of ED within a school setting.MethodFive hundred and eleven 11- to 19-year-old school pupils completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences of ED (72% female, 28% male). Responses were analysed using content analysis principles.ResultsOf the participants, 38% had a current or past ED, 49% of these had never received a formal diagnosis. Of the respondents, 59% saw a need to raise ED awareness. Only 7% would confide in a teacher about an ED.ConclusionsEfforts are needed to break down barriers to disclosure and support teachers to play an effective role in the detection and early intervention for ED.",

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author = "Pooky Knightsmith and Helen Sharpe and Olivia Breen and Janet Treasure and Ulrike Schmidt",

year = "2014",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/camh.12027",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "131--137",

journal = "Child and Adolescent Mental Health",

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AU - Sharpe, Helen

AU - Breen, Olivia

AU - Treasure, Janet

AU - Schmidt, Ulrike

PY - 2014/5

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N2 - BackgroundEating disorders (ED) have a peak rate of onset in school-aged children. Little is known about pupils' experiences of ED within a school setting.MethodFive hundred and eleven 11- to 19-year-old school pupils completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences of ED (72% female, 28% male). Responses were analysed using content analysis principles.ResultsOf the participants, 38% had a current or past ED, 49% of these had never received a formal diagnosis. Of the respondents, 59% saw a need to raise ED awareness. Only 7% would confide in a teacher about an ED.ConclusionsEfforts are needed to break down barriers to disclosure and support teachers to play an effective role in the detection and early intervention for ED.

AB - BackgroundEating disorders (ED) have a peak rate of onset in school-aged children. Little is known about pupils' experiences of ED within a school setting.MethodFive hundred and eleven 11- to 19-year-old school pupils completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences of ED (72% female, 28% male). Responses were analysed using content analysis principles.ResultsOf the participants, 38% had a current or past ED, 49% of these had never received a formal diagnosis. Of the respondents, 59% saw a need to raise ED awareness. Only 7% would confide in a teacher about an ED.ConclusionsEfforts are needed to break down barriers to disclosure and support teachers to play an effective role in the detection and early intervention for ED.

KW - school

KW - teacher

KW - bulimia

KW - Anorexia

KW - eating disorders

KW - binge-eating disorder

KW - MENTAL-HEALTH LITERACY

KW - BULIMIA-NERVOSA

KW - ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

KW - ADOLESCENT GIRLS

KW - BODY-IMAGE

KW - PREVALENCE

KW - CARERS

KW - INTERVENTION

KW - INFORMATION

KW - PERCEPTIONS

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M1 - N/A

ER -

'My teacher saved my life' versus 'Teachers don't have a clue': an online survey of pupils' experiences of eating disorders

Abstract

Keywords

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