Elina Kang
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Ellen Selkie, Assistant Professor
Research Mentor School/College/Department: CHEAR: Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, Michigan Medicine
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 3 (1pm-1:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 13
Presenter: 5
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa has the highest death rate of any mental disorder. The overall consensus is that stronger emotional connections moderate relationships between social support and eating disorder symptomology. However, the precise role that different types of social support play in the etiology of eating disorders, especially in gender minority youth, remains unclear. This study examined 50 transgender adolescent patients receiving treatment at the University of Michigan Adolescent Gender Services Clinic who completed the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Analysis will include descriptive statistics and t-tests to investigate the relationships between perceived support and eating disorder symptomology, and also to investigate whether the type of perceived support plays an important role in the effect of disorder eating in an individual. Potential results would demonstrate that perceived regard from others directly impact perceived regard for oneself, which, if low, would have a higher chance of manifesting as disordered eating. This study adds to a growing body of research on the association between social support and eating disorder symptomology and will contribute to future similar research.
Authors: Elina Kang
Research Method: Survey Research
