Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2016/04 -2020/03
Author : Katsuki Fujika
This study aimed to investigate how social support of mothers who are caregivers of patients with an eating disorder affects the mothers themselves and the patients. Fifty seven pairs of participants were recruited from four family self-help groups and one university hospital in Japan. Mothers were evaluated for social support, for self-efficacy, for loneliness, for listening attitude, for family functioning, and for depression symptoms. Patients were evaluated for loneliness, for self-esteem, for assertion, and for their symptoms. Mothers who had high social support showed lower scores for loneliness and depression. We found no significant differences in any patient scores compared based on mother’s level of social support. Mothers’ feelings of support seem to be related to their low loneliness and depression levels, but were not associated with patients’ eating disorders symptoms, loneliness, self-esteem, or assertion.