Disturbance at the Dinner Table: Exploring mothers’ experiences of mealtimes when caring for their son or daughter with anorexia nervosa

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version.This study examined mothers’ (n=9) mealtime experiences when caring for their son or daughter with anorexia nervosa (AN) through semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis identified three themes: 1) Managing mealtime combat through accommodation and acceptance; 2) Feeling isolated, inauthentic and ill-equipped; 3) A need for understanding and to be understood. The overarching concepts of ‘combat’ and ‘distortion’ also underpin the analysis, uniquely outlining how mothers come to understand this daily situation. Mealtime-related interventions need to be developed which prioritise promoting skills and confidence in managing mealtimes and helping carers to address the emotional challenges of these occasions