“Hang on tight even when you’re hitting the lows”: a narrative analysis of information shared by Instagram users recovering from an eating disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47989/ir31354613Keywords:
eating disorder recovery, information practices, transitions, health information behaviour, online health communitiesAbstract
Introduction. Online health communities serve as channels for sharing personal and sensitive information with understanding peers. This study aims to identify the collective core narrative that emerges within an online community of individuals recovering from eating disorders (EDR) and to incorporate these findings into an information behaviour theory of transitions (Ruthven, 2022). A study that combines a definition of EDR with the emergence of information practices at different stages of the healing process is still missing.
Method. The dataset consists of 723 Instagram posts, collected via HAR file web scraping.
Analysis. After anonymisation, the images and post captions were inductively coded and analysed to determine whether they contained defining information about the concept of EDR. The final selection of 65 posts was analysed using narrative analysis.
Results. One core narrative and four key characteristics were identified (non-linearity, hard fight, click moment as starting point, and individuality).
Conclusion. The examined Instagram community provides detailed information on the concept of EDR, which in some ways differs from definitions used in clinical studies. Additionally, similarities between EDR and previous conceptualisations of transitions were identified, leading to the recognition of potential information practices at various stages of EDR.
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