Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41580858›Full record

ArticleJournal of eating disorders2026

Expanding the implementation of virtual parent-led peer support groups for parents of children and adolescents with eating disorders: a convergent mixed methods study.

Jennifer Couturier, Maria Nicula, Ethan Nella, Tovah Yanover, Techiya Loewen, Anne-Marie Coolen, Erica Crews, Shaleen Jones, Melissa Kimber, Shauna MacEachern and 7 more

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Article in Journal of eating disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Jennifer CouturierDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. coutur@mcmaster.ca.
Maria NiculaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Ethan NellaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Tovah YanoverDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Techiya LoewenPhoenix Wings Eating Disorder Recovery Initiative, Woodstock, ON, Canada.
Anne-Marie CoolenEating Disorders Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Erica CrewsReach Out Centre for Kids, Burlington, ON, Canada.
Shaleen JonesEating Disorders Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Melissa KimberDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Shauna MacEachernFrayme, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Gail McVeyUniversity Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Nicole ObeidChildren's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Wendy PreskowNational Initiative for Eating Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Cendrine TremblaySilver Linings Foundation, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Cheryl WebbDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Lori WozneyDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Gina DimitropoulosFaculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundParenting a child with an eating disorder (ED) while also navigating the healthcare system can be complex and overwhelming. Preliminary research indicates that parent-led peer support could be a promising avenue to ease this burden. This study examined the expanding implementation of virtual parent-led peer-support groups (vPLPSGs) for parents of children with EDs.

methodsA convergent mixed methods design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the vPLPSG intervention and success of its implementation. Parents of children who had recovered from an ED, or parent peer support providers (PPSPs), were trained to lead vPLPSGs for parents of children currently ill with an ED. Groups occurred biweekly across two study waves, totalling 12 months. Parents completed measures of caregiver burden, caregiver needs, and caregiver confidence before and after attending vPLPSGs over a three-month period. PPSPs completed weekly ratings of fidelity and pre- and post-implementation measures of readiness for change, attitudes towards evidence-based practice, and perceptions of the effectiveness of the principles guiding this intervention. Using qualitative methods, PPSPs and parents participated in a focus group and individual semi-structured interviews, respectively.

resultsAt post-intervention, parents (n = 35) reported decreased caregiver burden (MD=-4.69; p = 0.050), an increase in met information and support needs (MD = 5.60; p < 0.001), and increased confidence to support their child with an ED (MD = 8.09; p < 0.01). Qualitative data indicated that parents reported vPLPSGs as a positive, supportive experience. PPSPs (n = 8) experienced a decrease in PPSPs' attitudes towards evidence-based practices (MD=-0.54; p < 0.01). Around half (50.5%) of the fidelity ratings met the pre-determined criterion (80%). PPSPs gave overall positive qualitative reports of their experiences facilitating vPLPSGs.

conclusionsIn this expanded vPLPSG intervention implemented across Canada, the program demonstrated effectiveness in improving parent outcomes and supporting PPSPs' readiness, attitudes, and perceived fit for the intervention. Both parents and PPSPs found the intervention acceptable and meaningful, and PPSPs demonstrated fidelity to the model. Parent-led peer support may be a useful adjunct to traditional pediatric ED care. Further research is needed to explore the implementation of vPLPSGs across diverse healthcare settings and demographic groups.

Indexed as

AdolescentsChildrenEating disordersInterventionMixed methodsParentsParent-to-parentPeer supportSupport groupVirtual

Identifiers

PMID41580858
PMCPMC12911330

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.