Exploring social support for eating disorders in Indigenous contexts.

backgroundEating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of cultural and ethnic background. However, culturally situated understandings of eating disorders are important for optimizing care. Moreover, social support is widely recognized as a key component in the recovery of eating disorders. Established Euro-Western treatment models generally conceptualize social support as the role family and close friends play in providing emotional and practical support during a loved one's recovery. Indigenous perspectives of social support, which may include connection to ancestors, community, non-human relatives, and the land, are largely absent from such models, which limits understanding of the culturally relevant social networks that can help support Indigenous peoples with eating disorders. The present research addresses this gap exploring social support through Indigenous worldviews.

methodsThis qualitative project was completed with an Indigenous research approach. Two Indigenous therapists participated in a semi-structured sharing circle (focus group) and one Indigenous therapist participated in a semi-structured individual conversation (interview). Both the sharing circle and the interview were facilitated by the lead author, who is an Indigenous researcher. The data were analysed using qualitative description.

resultsQualitative analysis produced two main themes that reflect interrelated conceptualizations of social support from Indigenous perspectives, relevant to working with Indigenous peoples struggling with eating disorders. The interrelated themes were Wahkotowin (relationships between all things), and 2) land as support and (re)connection.

conclusionsThis research presents novel insights into Indigenous perspectives on social support as relevant to eating disorder treatment. It expands the understanding of social support beyond immediate family networks to include relationships between all things, including ancestors, community, all living things, and the importance of land-based healing. The study addresses the need for Indigenous perspectives in the field of eating disorders research and treatment as well as the need to understand and incorporate culturally specific forms of social support.