Date Presented 04/03/2025
People living with sensory processing differences (SPDs) and disordered eating experience impacts on occupational performance, health, and quality of life. A lack of awareness regarding sensory needs leads to trauma in eating disorder (ED) treatment.
Primary Author and Speaker: Sarah E. Norris
Additional Authors and Speakers: Eleni Zlatis, Danae Roldan, Samantha Rahman
Contributing Authors: Catherine Cavaliere
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of individuals experiencing co-occurring SPDs and EDs.
DESIGN: This study is a retrospective phenomenological study. A total of 13 participants volunteered to share their experiences in 9 focus groups over a month. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and deidentified before data analysis.
METHOD: Focus groups were recorded using Zoom transcription. All data was de-identified prior to analysis. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze the transcripts.
RESULTS: Four themes emerged: (1) Sensory differences influence disordered eating behaviors, (2) Treatment trauma during eating disorder treatment (3) Disordered eating due to sensory differences impacts both physical and mental health, and (4) Challenges in occupational engagement due to sensory differences and disordered eating.
CONCLUSION: Our study provides important insight into the lived experiences of persons with comorbid sensory processing differences and disordered eating. This research is crucial for occupational therapy practice and calls attention to the impact of this co-occurrence on occupational participation and well-being. Occupational Therapists are uniquely equipped to support persons with sensory processing differences and eating disorders and educate other healthcare professionals working with this population to prevent treatment trauma.
IMPACT STATEMENT: Our findings emphasize the profound impact of sensory processing differences and disordered eating on individuals’ daily lives, highlighting the urgent need for tailored interventions and increased awareness among healthcare professionals to prevent treatment trauma. By depicting the complex intersectionality between these conditions, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by these individuals, ultimately informing more effective support strategies.
References
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