Original scientific paper

Eating Disorders and Internet: Content Analysis of Croatian Web Pages

Neala Ambrosi-Randić ; Odjel za humanističke znanosti, Sveučilište Jurja Dobrile u Puli
Alessandra Pokrajac-Bulian ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci
Jelena Ogresta ; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Mauro Lacovich ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci

Abstract

The Internet has of late become more and more popular as a means of communication, providing individuals with the opportunity to create websites and web pages on which they can express their own opinions, thoughts and personality. Pro-anorexia websites are those which seek to promote, encourage and discuss anorexia (Dias, 2003). Websites like these portray anorexia in a positive light and usually define it as a lifestyle, not an ailment. The authors of the web pages are usually young girls whose goal is to create an anorexia-redefining community and, in the process, draw up their own vocabulary. These websites promote the use of weight-loss medicaments and are a source of harmful tips on how to attain and maintain a very low body weight.
Given the fact that there are also Croatian pro-anorexia web pages and they have not, as yet, been the subject of any detailed analyses, we were interested in examining their contents. We have analyzed internet posts published on 31 blogs, whose contents referred to encouraging anorexia, bulimia, and eating disorders in general. The analyses conducted for this study show that the participants of these websites are usually adolescent girls, and the main subjects of their discussions are binge eating, regurgitation, dieting, fasting, exercising and drug abuse. In addition, pro-anorexia websites are also a means of seeking and giving advice as well as providing social support needed to attain and maintain a low body weight. Negative emotions such as sadness, hatred and anger are far more common than positive ones. Two thirds of blogs that were subject to analysis also contain images and poems intended to reinforce motivation and behavior directed towards attaining the ideal of thinness. Given the potentially negative, and as yet unknown, effects of these web pages, it is necessary to conduct additional analyses in order to draw up a plan of intervention.

Keywords

eating disorders; web pages; content analysis; blog; post

Hrčak ID:

32451

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/32451

Publication date:

1.12.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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