Connectedness
Social turbulence is normal during adolescence. This project sets out to understand more about the influence of empathy and social approval, how much we perceive ourselves as socially rejected and lonely, and how a lack of friends and group identity, can lead to a reduced sense of value.
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We also want to know whether social connectedness might prevent, reduce or is protective against eating disorder development.
Social behaviours and the quality of adolescent relationships predict the development of disordered eating and eating disorders and their course and outcomes. But different treatments are used to treat neuro-typical and non-typical individuals for eating disorders
After the Covid pandemic, increases in communication difficulties and social anxiety were found in adolescent eating disorder patients.
Autism and eating disorders sometimes co-occur.
Appearance-based concerns are learnt and can be unlearnt!