How Academically High-Achieving Females Who Developed Disordered Eating Coped With Social Problems and Bullying

• In Event: 75.042 - MTCC Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: 75.042-9 - Gifted Education: Practices and Policies

Abstract

An inability to cope with stressful events might lead to a feeling of being out of control, which in turn could lead girls to diet to feel a sense of success (Levine & Smolak, 1992). This qualitative study examined the coping strategies used by 11 academically high-achieving females who experienced social problems and bullying before the onset of disordered eating in high school. Participants were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview protocol. The findings revealed that these high-achieving females reported the use of both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies. Many of the coping strategies they used were ineffective, and this contributed to an increase of stress. These findings highlight the importance of education about social coping skills for high-achieving girls.

Authors

• Jennifer Krafchek, Monash University

• Leonie Kronborg, Monash University