The Lived Experience of Black and Latina American Women in Eating Disorder Treatment

Abstract

Eating disorder research has predominantly focused on understanding the experiences of White women. Studies examining culturally adapted eating disorder treatment have primarily presented quantitative data and theoretical approaches. To this researcher’s knowledge, this study is the first to qualitatively explore the treatment experiences of Black and Latina American women. It sought to understand the meaning that four participants, who identified as either Black American or Latina American women attributed to the eating disorder treatment through semi-structured interviews. These narratives were collected to better understand how cultural factors and providers’ integration of those factors influence treatment experiences for Black and Latina American women. Through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), seven themes emerged: Culturally Attuned Treatment, Impact of Family Dynamics on Recovery, Positive Cultural Influences, Cultural Constraints on Recovery, Cultural Disconnect with Treatment Peers, Treatment Beyond the Scale, and Strength in Representation. The narratives shared by participants contribute to addressing the gap in the eating disorder literature related Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.