Informal caregiver uncertainty: exploring the presence of uncertainty in eating disorder Reddit posts
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. However, individuals experiencing an eating disorder are not the only people affected by their condition; informal caregivers (any individual who has a relationship to an individual with an eating disorder but may or may not be a designated caregiver by title) are also impacted by other’s eating disorders. Using the tripartite model of uncertainty, this study examines the ways that informal caregivers use online forums to express their uncertainty. A random sample of the r/EatingDisorders subreddit was extracted and posts written by informal caregivers were identified, resulting in 163 posts for analysis. A deductive qualitative analysis was conducted using the tripartite model of uncertainty to identify sources of uncertainty for informal caregivers. Results concluded that individuals express medical, personal, and social uncertainty online independently, but also experience compounding uncertainty, where the experience of one uncertainty creates tension with and may exacerbate another uncertainty. Future research should continue to explore the implications of compounding uncertainties to assist in the future creation of educational resources for individuals who may be informal caregivers of people with eating disorders. Caregivers are an important aspect of eating disorder recovery. However, not all caregivers are full-time formal caregivers. Rather, some individuals may not be involved with formal caregiving tasks such as financial tasks or medical tasks but still provide social support and other smaller tasks for an individual experiencing an eating disorder. In this study, we aimed to understand the unique challenges of informal caregivers by looking at an eating disorder subreddit online. Specifically, we were interested in learning more about the sources of uncertainty experienced by people serving as an informal caregiver of someone with an eating disorder. Using the tripartite model of uncertainty as a theoretical lens, we found that informal caregivers often experienced compounding uncertainty, where the presence of one uncertainty exacerbated the experience of another type of uncertainty. Overall, we use this information to extend the theoretical model and suggest opportunities for educational resources for informal caregivers.
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders
Authors: Braidyn Lazenby, Mackenzie Pike
Institutions: Florida State University, University of Alabama
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,190
OpenAlex ID: W4417362104