Effect of Personal Background of Children with Eating Disorders on Difficulty of Daily Life by Their Parents

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between personal background information of children with eating disorders and the difficulty of daily life by their parents. It is an important decision to consider the family support.

Method: The parents completed a self-administered questionnaire about the personal background of their children (4 items) and the Scale for Evaluating Difficulties in Daily Life (15 items). Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, chi-square test (with Yates correction), and Fisher’s exact test.

Results: A total of 45 valid responses were analyzed. The age of children with eating disorders significantly correlated with “unable to go out freely” and “physical and mental fatigue” (P < .05) and “no personal time” (P < .01). The onset age significantly correlated with “always have something to worry about marriage story of other family members” (P < .05). The history of admittance to hospital significantly correlated with “unable to go out freely” (P < .05).

Conclusion: The personal background of children with eating disorders (current age is 19 or under, the onset age is 20 or older, and there is history of admittance to hospital) has an effect on the difficulty of daily life by their parents. Thus, such parents require support, considering that the personal background affects how they feel about their children.