“Det känns bra att kontrollera vad jag äter, då är jag ju i alla fall bra på något” En kvalitativ studie om unga kvinnor och deras upplevelser av ätstörningar.

Sammanfattning

Eating disorders are a common psychiatric issue, with women aged 19-24 at the highest risk of becoming ill. Research indicates that one of the primary causes of this illness is media usage, driven by the content of media platforms. Although it has been established through research that media content contributes to young women's critical perception of their body image, the publication of an esteemed ideal body shape continues. The purpose of this research was to explore how young women recount their experiences of being ill with an eating disorder, based on our previous experiences and interest in eating disorders. Throughout the study process, an understanding of the underlying reasons that can lead to the development of eating disorders has been created. We employed a qualitative method in the form of text analysis, drawing from three autobiographies written by young women who have previously suffered from eating disorders. The material has been thematically analyzed, coded, and processed to achieve a detailed result. The content of the autobiographies illustrated the young women's experiences regarding the onset of eating disorders as well as factors that maintain disordered eating behavior. The young women's narratives, connected to the sociology of emotions, contributed perspectives on the significant impact of emotional labor and emotional regulation on eating disorders. We chose to use Arlie Russell Hochschild's theory of emotional labor and Thomas Scheff's theories on shame and pride. The results showed that the young women worked extensively with their emotions, visualizing desired feelings while suppressing unwanted ones. Other factors, such as shame and anxiety related to their body shape and food consumption influenced the young women to maintain disordered eating behaviors.