A preliminary study of collaborative group intervention with recovered peer supporters for eating disorders: Analyses including comparisons between in‐person and online sessions

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of a single‐session group intervention for individuals with an eating disorder that involved collaborations between peer supporters, who had recovered from an eating disorder, and psychological professionals. We also compared intervention effects between in‐person and online settings.Participants with an eating disorder were recruited through online platforms and public promotional materials. The inclusion criteria involved individuals who had current eating disorders and were willing to openly share their experiences during the session in which the Reflecting Team method was applied.The analysis included 103 participants (75 in‐person and 28 online). We found significant time‐based effects (F(1, 101) = 70.390, p < 0.001, ηG2 = 0.083), which indicated that participants experienced reductions in feelings of isolation, hopelessness associated with their eating disorder, and belief in the incurability of their disorder following the group interventions. No significant differences were observed between in‐person or remote sessions (F(1, 101) = 0.087, p = 0.768, ηG2 = 0.001).Our findings suggest that peer supporters serve as a source of hope for individuals with eating disorders, even within group settings. Furthermore, the similar outcomes across in‐person and online sessions show the promise of remote group sessions as a novel means of support for individuals with eating disorders, regardless of their geographical location. However, future randomized controlled trials of continuous group therapy sessions are essential to confirm their effectiveness.