337 Eating attitudes and behaviours in males and females with cystic fibrosis. The role of body image and coping styles

Abstract

This thesis commences with a review of the literature on eating disorders and disturbed eating attitudes and behaviours (DEABs) in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Certain physiological and psychological factors related to CF may contribute to the development of issues with food and eating. The major conclusions of the review support the notion of the presence of some DEABs in people with CF. However, it seems that the presence of diagnostic eating disorders is no higher than that found in the general population. Limitations of the research are discussed and areas for future research are identified. Following from this, the empirical paper investigated the relationships between eating behaviours and attitudes, coping styles and body image in individuals with CF. The findings suggest that females with CF present with higher rates of DEABs and males present with poorer body image. DEABs were found to be associated with poorer body image and unhelpful coping strategies. Clinicians should screen for DEABs at clinic appointments to ensure that any difficulties do not impact on the health of the individuals. The results are considered in relation to prior research, and methodological limitations as well as clinical implications are discussed.