Preliminary data on help‐seeking intentions and behaviors of individuals completing a widely available online screen for eating disorders in the United States

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft
  • Katherine N Balantekin
  • Andrea K. Graham
  • Bianca DePietro
  • Olivia Laing
  • Marie-Laure Firebaugh
  • Lauren Smolar
  • Dan Park
  • Claire Mysko
  • Burkhardt Funk
  • C. Barr Taylor
  • Denise E Wilfley
Objective
Scaling an online screen that provides referrals may be key in closing the treatment gap for eating disorders (EDs), but we need to understand respondents' help‐seeking intentions and behaviors after receiving screen results. This study reported on these constructs among respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online screen who screened positive or at high risk for an ED.

Method
Respondents completed the screen over 18 months (February 9, 2018–August 28, 2019). Those screening positive or at high risk for an ED (n = 343,072) had the option to provide data on help‐seeking intentions (after screen completion) and behaviors (2‐month follow‐up).

Results
Of eligible respondents, 4.8% (n = 16,396) provided data on help‐seeking intentions, with only 33.7% of those reporting they would seek help. Only 7.6% of eligible respondents opted in to the 2‐month follow‐up, with 10.6% of those completing it (n = 2,765). Overall, 8.9% of respondents to the follow‐up reported being in treatment when they took the screen, 15.5% subsequently initiated treatment, and 75.5% did not initiate/were not already in treatment.

Discussion
Preliminary results suggest that among the small minority who provided data, only one‐third expressed help‐seeking intentions and 16% initiated treatment. Online screening should consider ways to increase respondents' motivation for and follow‐through with care.
Original languageEnglish
JournalThe International journal of eating disorders
Volume53
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)1556-1562
Number of pages7
ISSN0276-3478
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.09.2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DOI

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