Qualitative Abstract
This study is a qualitative study with an explorative design. This qualitative, explorative design
has a goal of investigating siblings, who deal with anorexia nervosa, their own support system,
burdens, and experiences in their own family. There are no known hypotheses in this study
because this study is exploring why siblings who experience anorexia nervosa are noted as
forgotten in their family. The participants for this study came mainly from psychotherapists and/
or mental health hospitals. The sample is based on siblings of girls who suffer with anorexia
nervosa no matter their gender, race, and age. They also need to live with their sister during their
childhood and have an ICD-10 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa to join the study. There were a total
of twelve girls and four boys that suffered from anorexia nervosa living with a girl sibling. The
siblings that participated in this study are between twelve and fifty-two years of age, but the
average age for this study was about twenty-four years old. This research is based upon the
subject’s personal information and guided interview that asked questions regarding their own
experiences with their family and siblings, how and when their eating disorder occurred, and
how they cope with their emotional experiences. This study took place in Aachen, Germany at
the Catholic University of Applied Sciences. In this study, results have shown that few of the
patients that were dealing with anorexia nervosa, have distanced themselves from their parents,
but it has made it easier for patients to grow closer with their siblings. The other participants had
an avoided relationship and never spoke or contacted their sibling or family member.
Quantitative Abstract
This study is a qualitative study with a cross-sectional design. This quantitative, cross-sectional
design and its goal was to analyze and distinguish the characteristics of self-injurious behavior in
patients struggling with eating disorders and to determine the difference between eating disorder
