Changes in Parental Well-Being Following Intensive Day Programme Treatment for Restrictive Eating Disorders in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

Parents of young people with anorexia nervosa (AN) often experience significant psychological distress, including elevated levels of anxiety and depression, as well as impaired daily functioning and low self-efficacy. This study examined changes in self-reported levels of anxiety, depression, functional impairment, and self-efficacy in parents of young people attending an intensive day treatment programme (ITP) for adolescents with AN.

METHOD: Participants were 71 parents of young people enrolled in ITP. Parents completed standardised outcome measures at assessment and discharge, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE).

RESULTS

Parents reported significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and functional impairment from assessment to discharge. No significant change was found in self-efficacy scores. No baseline factors for the young people of these parents predicted change in parental wellbeing or functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that ITP may contribute to modest but significant improvements in parents' mental health and daily functioning. These quantitative outcomes align with prior qualitative findings and highlight the potential value of structured, parent-inclusive day treatment in supporting families affected by AN.