Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Use:The Perspective of Women with Eating Disorders Experience

DRTILOVÁ, Hana, David ŠMAHEL and Martina ŠMAHELOVÁ. Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Use:The Perspective of Women with Eating Disorders Experience. In Cyberspace conference, Brno, 26-27 November 2021. 2021.

Basic information

• Original name: Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Use:The Perspective of Women with Eating Disorders Experience
• Name in Czech: Výhody a nevýhody používání internetu: Perspektiva žen se zkušeností s poruchami přímu potravy
• Authors: DRTILOVÁ, Hana, David ŠMAHEL and Martina ŠMAHELOVÁ.
• Edition: Cyberspace conference, Brno, 26-27 November 2021, 2021.

Other information

• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret

Abstract

Even though the internet is a common source of information and treatment for people with eating disorder (ED) experience (Peebles et al., 2012), the motives for illness-related searches have rarely been investigated beyond the perceived negatives. This study explores how women with ED experience reflect upon the advantages and disadvantages of their ED-related internet use. We expand the framework of the Uses and Gratifications Theory (U&G) into the context of users with ED experience through 30 semi-structured interviews with women with ED experience, aged 16 to 28, who live in the Czech Republic. Thematic analysis revealed four themes related to the pros and cons of their internet usage: ED-related Information Content; Internet Features Important to Users; Body Image; and Social Interaction. The results challenge the binary view of ED-related internet use and question some presumptions of U&G Theory within the specific context of users with ED experience.