An evaluation of lived experience email peer support for young people with eating disorders.
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| Title: | An evaluation of lived experience email peer support for young people with eating disorders. |
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| Authors: | Duffy, Fiona (AUTHOR), Peebles, Imogen (AUTHOR), Taylor, Sarah J (AUTHOR), Brassill, Sophie (AUTHOR), Hughes, Beth (AUTHOR), Sharpe, Helen (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Eating Disorders. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p165-175. 11p. |
| Subjects: | Repeated measures design, Self-esteem testing, Social capital, Research funding, Self-efficacy, Affinity groups, Questionnaires, Eating disorders, Experience, Email, Surveys, Social support, Data analysis software, Regression analysis, Psychosocial factors, Adults |
| Geographic Terms: | Scotland |
| Abstract: | Peer support is where individuals with the same shared experience provide mutual support. Using a non-controlled repeated measure design, this study evaluates initial efficacy of one-to-one email peer support. Young people with an eating disorder were matched with a recovered volunteer befriender, for up to one year, providing 1–3 email contacts a week. All participants completed measures (self-esteem, self-efficacy, wellbeing) at start of service, two and four-month intervals for recipients (n = 92) and peer befrienders (n = 86) respectively, and at end of service. Recipients also completed measures of social connectedness, impact of eating disorder, and goal-based outcomes. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models indicated significant improvements across all outcomes for recipients by 4 months, apart from self-esteem, and improvements self-efficacy, eating disorder impact and goal-based outcomes maintained at end of service. Peer befrienders did not show changes in self-esteem or self-efficacy, but there was a small significant reduction in wellbeing. The study provides evidence for email peer support for young people with eating disorders and highlights the need for robust support for befriending roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Peer support is where individuals with the same shared experience provide mutual support. Using a non-controlled repeated measure design, this study evaluates initial efficacy of one-to-one email peer support. Young people with an eating disorder were matched with a recovered volunteer befriender, for up to one year, providing 1–3 email contacts a week. All participants completed measures (self-esteem, self-efficacy, wellbeing) at start of service, two and four-month intervals for recipients (n = 92) and peer befrienders (n = 86) respectively, and at end of service. Recipients also completed measures of social connectedness, impact of eating disorder, and goal-based outcomes. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models indicated significant improvements across all outcomes for recipients by 4 months, apart from self-esteem, and improvements self-efficacy, eating disorder impact and goal-based outcomes maintained at end of service. Peer befrienders did not show changes in self-esteem or self-efficacy, but there was a small significant reduction in wellbeing. The study provides evidence for email peer support for young people with eating disorders and highlights the need for robust support for befriending roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10640266 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10640266.2025.2459974 |
