Eating disorder in a relationship from a point of view of woman's partner

The aim of the thesis is to theoretically describe and empirically verify "typical moments", that partner of eating disorder ill women has to undergo from the beginning through progress and treatment of the illness in respect of the relationship. Both theoretical and qualitative practical part map the situations faced by partner during his female-partner's illness, how he figures in the illness system, how he influences his partner's illness, which mechanisms he uses to cope with the illness, how the relationship influences the progress of the illness, which needs and feelings are emphasized at the partner. Theoretical part of the thesis is based on world literature and the experience of coordinator of self-help group for eating disorder ill person's relatives and carers. It is also based on analysis of qualitative data acquired from questionnaires with open type of questions. The questions in the questionnaires were sorted into five areas: discovering of the illness and reaction on this finding, foreknowledge of malepartners about eating disorders and possibilities of treatment, needs of partner in time of his female-partner's illness (sharing of the illness, needs and feelings, relationship and communication, positive and negative impacts on male-partner, participation on the treatment and interest in..