Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39223635›Full record

ArticleJournal of eating disorders2024

Understanding stigma in the context of help-seeking for eating disorders.

Prudence L Wall, Daniel B Fassnacht, Esme Fabry, Anne E O'Shea, Catherine Houlihan, Kate Mulgrew, Kathina Ali

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of eating disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed.

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  4. A Bifactor Measure of Societal Stigma Toward Eating Disorders and Obesity: Scale Development and Validation.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Prudence L WallSchool of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia.
Daniel B FassnachtSchool of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia.
Esme FabryCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Anne E O'SheaCollege of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Catherine HoulihanSchool of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia.
Kate MulgrewSchool of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia.
Kathina AliSchool of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia. kali@usc.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStigma is a complex construct and its association with help-seeking among those experiencing eating disorders is not well understood. Rates of help-seeking are low for those with eating disorder symptoms and, therefore, determining the role of stigma and shame in this relationship is needed to help inform effective awareness campaigns aimed at improving prognostic outcomes. The current study examined the associations between perceived stigma, self-stigma, shame, and help-seeking behaviour in a community sample of individuals with elevated eating disorder symptoms.

methodsParticipants completed an online survey that included measures of stigma and shame as perceived barriers to help-seeking for individuals with eating disorders. Those with elevated eating disorder symptoms and high clinical impairment were included in the study (N = 333).

resultsUsing binary logistic regression models controlling for age and gender, results showed that perceived stigma, self-stigma, and shame predicted 64% of help-seeking behaviour (p = .005). The only significant unique predictor of formal help-seeking was "Being concerned that other people believe eating disorders are not real illnesses". No other stigma or shame items were found to significantly predict help-seeking.

conclusionsThe present findings suggest that while stigma plays an important role in help-seeking, it might not be the primary reason preventing individuals with eating disorders from accessing care. The field is encouraged to investigate these factors to promote help-seeking effectively.

Indexed as

BarriersEarly interventionEating disordersHelp-seekingShameStigmaTreatment

Identifiers

PMID39223635
PMCPMC11367835

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.