An exploration of the prominent factors that contributed to the aetiology of child and adolescent eating disorder presentations diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes to many peoples’ lives. In Ireland, this resulted in significant restrictions to social connection, education, and lifestyle, and contributed to increased stress and anxiety generally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the quantity and severity of child and adolescent Eating Disorder (ED) presentations increased. This thesis explores and integrates the prominent factors that contributed to the aetiology of child and adolescent ED presentations diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first chapter presents a scoping review of the literature identifying key factors that contributed to the aetiology of EDs in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies which identified factors pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic that contributed to the aetiology of child and adolescent eating disorder presentations were included and any aetiological factors mentioned were extracted as data and organised into twelve themes. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. The literature raised concern relating to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the aetiology of eating disorder presentations amongst the child and adolescent cohort. However, there was a lack of specific research analysing the prominent aetiological factors.

The second chapter presents an empirical study that employed Reflexive Thematic Analysis to explore and integrate the prominent factors that contributed to the aetiology of child and adolescent ED presentations diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was based on interviews gathered from: (1) adolescent patients (aged 13-18) diagnosed with an Eating Disorder (ED) during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) parents, and (3) clinicians. Six prominent factors were established and suggested to contribute to child and adolescent ED development during the COVID-19 pandemic timeframe.

The final chapter discusses the implications of this research for theory, research, and clinical practice.