Essay for Eating Disorders within the Family - myassignmenthelp

Question: Write about theEssay for Eating Disorders within the Family. Answer: There are many misconceptions about eating disorder that are prevailing in the market. A large segment of the society believes that family is directly related with the formation or causation of the eating disorder, which is completely wrong. There are few examples where family is the cause of the disorder, but that doesnt make it universal. Psychologists believe that family can more efficiently work as curing agent rather than causing it. It is upon individual or their family to decide what role they want their family to play in their recovery (Berge et al., 2014). The role of family in managing or prevention of eating disorder can be studied with the help of psychological theories, as eating disorder can be put under psychological disorder. The most effective theory that can help in understanding familys role in the matter is the attachment theory (Anastasiadou et al., 2014). The attachment theory was formulated by John Bowlby after World War II, when UN asked him to write a pamphlet on the difficulties faced by homeless and orphaned children. Bowlby formulated the theory to describe the dynamics of long term relationship between human beings. The primary principle of the theory explains the importance of a developed relationship of an infant with at least one caregiver for social and emotional development. This can only bring out a normal growth of a child in the society (Bowlby Ainsworth, 2013). It is quite obvious these days, that, the children with insecure attachment style are more prone to eating disorder. This attachment starts to grow within first five to seven years of their life. It is observed that, the children who feel that their parents are a reliable source of comfort and security are most likely to develop secure attachment style and grow healthy habits (Tasca Balfour, 2014). Many of the eating disorder sufferers usually turn to food to find security, comfort and emotional stability. On the other hand, many eat less due to their emotional distress, which is a common case. The family cannot be blamed for the disorder as it is a complicated issue where many factors have to come together for a person to develop the disorder. What is known to all that, behaviour like, a cold parental attitude, high expectations from a child, parental rejection can lead to eating disorder. Human being is a social animal, which can only survive in social context. From the very childhood to the mature state, they seek secure attached relationships that will provide emotional support, comfort and availability, especially at stressful situation and moments of important changes. Human children has an inbuilt ability to start internalize daily interactions and experiences with their parents. It depends on their parents and the family members how they respond to their childs attachment behaviour. If the infants receive a positive feedback from their caregivers, they feel their importance and value to them and act accordingly. Now, if the infants consistently receive rejection or inconsistent response to their signals, they experience unlovable and incompetent, which eventually lead them to insecurity. Bowlbys attachment theory states that, it is essential to grow a secure quality of attachment relationship to solve developmental tasks in adolescent period like adjusting to physical changes, defining goals for the future or creating own identity and thus represents an important buffer for psychological risks. Failing this brings emotional insecurity, which in most of the cases leads to develop eating disorder in the children (Holmes, 2014). Adolescent is another phase of human life and the most important one in this process. This is the period when children tends to detach from their parents and wants to become independent, but seeks their parents comfort and solace under severe stress. This is a paradoxical situation whi ch can be resolved with mutual open communication. Moreover, as they start to become more autonomous, they tend to develop accurate and thoughtful responses to attachment experiences. In most of the cases, proves to become an issue of discomfort for the parents, but is fundamental to form secure relationship with other in the future and reconsider and alter the pre set of concepts about attachment in the respective minds (Rohde, Stice Marti, 2015). It is often seen that, failure in proper attachment with family during these developmental phase tends to lead to eating disorder in individual. This is commonly seen around the world with little or no modifications as human cognition works in a similar basic pattern. Variation in culture leads to different outcomes. Role of family in managing eating disorder is crucial according to the psychiatrists around the world. Family treatment theory or family therapy is popular among the psychologists in treatment and management of eating disorder where they use the patients family as a tool for recovery and management. The theory was proposed by doctor Murray Bowen in the year 1974, based on human behaviour that views the family as an emotional unit and uses it to describe the complex interaction in the unit (Boszormenyi-Nagy Framo, 2013). Family therapy is equally important for both adult and adolescent patients. This is a complex illness which involves many contributing factors. Different family background can develop different results in managing eating disorder. The focus has been set at the center of the disease, where psychologists reach out the family to help them examine emotion within the family system, communication and relationship patterns that helps managing the disorder. Families can also come together for help out the ill in the recovery. It can include a strong parental alliance, resolution of family difficulties and support the adolescent developing their independence. Different approaches can be taken for treatment of the patient and manage the disorder in a family level. They are family therapy session, couple therapy, family based treatment, therapeutic family snack and therapeutic family meals, multi-family therapy group and many more. Family-Based treatment or Maudsley approach is evidence based model, commonly used families of children and adolescents with the disorder. The family is instructed to maintain three phase intensive therapeutic model. This model is best suited for the taking care of the children and the adolescents of the family. Couple therapy is best way to treat the patient in a relationship. Eating disorder can have critical impact on the relationship if any of the partners suffers from it. Negative body image, decreased sexual desire and hi gh level of secrecy can often be related with the disorder. Managing these cases can also manage the disorder before it can cause any harm. Family therapy is another important tool used by the psychologists who engage the patients in the session with their family (Couturier, Kimber Szatmari, 2013; Family Therapy, 2017) Many times, lack independence and privacy can cause an eating disorder in adolescents. There are many reports where the adolescent seek out ways in which to achieve desired autonomy. A supportive approach in this matter from the parents can resolve the issue adequately. This can be achieved by spending more time together as a family, expressing love and attention to each other, make the members of the family feel acceptance and important and supporting the identities and uniqueness of the members (Kimber et al., 2014). Weight related negative comments influences the opinion, attitudes and behaviours, which results in disordered eating. The family members should eliminate negative connotations from weight, food and body image, for which, the psychotherapists proposes the parents to have least amount of food rules that is possible. Negative conversations should also be avoided at all possible level (Lock Le Grange, 2015). Conflict avoidance is another issue in which families act as a possible precursor, as well as maintainer for eating disorder. This occurs in a family with unclear boundaries among the family subsystems. Lack of psycho-education can also lead the family members into eating disorder as they dont have any proper knowledge, hence, operate other ways. Development of psycho-education can help the family in managing the disorder among the members of the family (Robinson, Dolhanty Greenberg, 2015). From the essay, a conclusion can be drawn that eating disorder is caused primarily due to psychological factors and family plays an important role in it. There are various other factors influencing the formation of the disorder. Psychologists and psychotherapists prefer family therapy in both preventing and managing the disorder. Attachment theory of Bowlby shows its competence in analyzing and treating the disorder in family level as it shows clear role of family and its importance. This attachment is necessary for children, adolescent and adults to grow a strong positive behaviour. Lack of attachment is the primary ingredient for developing eating disorder, as the patient goes through stress which they cannot comfort as they do not grow any attachment with their family. The attachment theory needs to be implemented at the early stages of life as the children grow most of their behaviour patterns within age five to seven. These attachment rules are not universal and vary for differe nt age group and needs to be treated accordingly. Family therapy on the other hand is used to manage and treat the individual suffering from the disease. Proper implication of this theory by the family is vital in every society. The variations have to be adopted according to the culture under study. References Anastasiadou, D., Medina-Pradas, C., Sepulveda, A. R., Treasure, J. (2014). A systematic review of family caregiving in eating disorders.Eating behaviors,15(3), 464-477. Berge, J. M., Wall, M., Larson, N., Eisenberg, M. E., Loth, K. A., Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2014). The unique and additive associations of family functioning and parenting practices with disordered eating behaviors in diverse adolescents.Journal of behavioral medicine,37(2), 205-217. Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., Framo, J. L. (2013).Intensive family therapy: Theoretical and practical aspects. Routledge. Bowlby, J., Ainsworth, M. (2013). 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