Category: Eating Disorders
Neha Goel, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Jordan Schueler, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Texas A & M University
College Station, Texas
Carolyn Becker, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Professor
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas
Samantha Plezia, B.A. (she/her/hers)
University of Oregon
Middletown, Rhode Island
Heather Davis, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia
C. Blair Burnette, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Caroline Christian, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Doctoral Student
The University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Although health disparities and social inequities are not new concepts, the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the sheer gravity of these issues for many marginalized communities across the globe. In parallel with, and response to, the resurgence of the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the United States, there has been a wide call across the field of clinical science to commit to improving social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the individual, institutional, and policy levels (Buchanan et al., 2021; Roberts et al., 2021). Within the eating disorders (EDs) field, scientists have offered insights into how we can apply these concepts to specifically suit the needs of patients, organizations, professionals, and communities (Goel et al., 2022; Mikhail, 2023).
One recommendation is to acknowledge the importance, utility, and versatility of qualitative methods as a means of enhancing health parity. Qualitative methods utilize non-numerical data (e.g., text, images) that allow researchers to gain an intimate understanding of a relatively uninvestigated topic and/or population, and witness how individuals make sense of the phenomenon under study (Rodgers, 2009). In general, qualitative research designs share three fundamental strengths: (1) an ability to elicit exploration and discovery, (2) breadth and context, and (3) summary and interpretation of the underlying mechanisms that can help to explain both similarities and variations across participants’ experiences (Morgan, 1998). At its core, qualitative research seeks to uplift and amplify participants’ voices in science and disrupt the researcher-participant power dynamic (Creswell & Poth, 2018). This is especially important among ED populations, given high treatment dropout rates (24.2%) and a historical focus on the experiences of White, Western, cisgender women–both of which have spurred a critical need to better understand how to treat these complex disorders in diverse groups (Goel et al., 2022; Swift & Greenberg, 2014). Despite the growing popularity of qualitative methods (e.g., Burnette et al., 2017; Goel et al., 2021), questions remain regarding when and how to use them in empirical research (Clarke & Braun, 2018; LaMarre & Chamberlain, 2022).
The purpose of this symposium is to highlight research using qualitative methods to improve health parity across multiple areas of clinical research—from “bench” science to translational science—and among diverse groups (e.g., in terms of race, ethnicity, age, size) with EDs or body image concerns. We will provide an overview of the preparation process for conducting qualitative work, lessons learned based on our experiences, and how qualitative techniques can promote a deeper understanding of participant experiences relevant for clinical application (e.g., identifying unique geographic or culture-based risk factors for EDs to inform future preventative efforts). By highlighting such benefits, we will further prioritize the well-being of all individuals struggling with EDs or body image concerns, including those who are historically marginalized or underrepresented in research, and demonstrate how scientists can “cultivate joy” in their work through the use of qualitative approaches.
