# How Can We Help You?: An Instagram-Based Online Self-Help for Eating Disorders

Gaia Albano (), Gianluca Lo Coco (), Arianna Teti, Mariarita Semola, Federica Valenti, Chiara Destro Pastizzaro, Debora Mignosi and Salvatore Gullo
Additional contact information
Gaia Albano: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Gianluca Lo Coco: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Arianna Teti: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Mariarita Semola: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Federica Valenti: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Chiara Destro Pastizzaro: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Debora Mignosi: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Salvatore Gullo: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in online self-help treatments and peer-support programs for eating disorders. The possibility of easily accessing them anytime makes these programs an important support tool and an influencing source for increasing motivation to change. The aim of this work is to describe the # How can we help you? project, its initial feedback received from users, and its future directions. Researchers and clinicians developed an Instagram profile ( Dicci Come Aiutarti) based on psychoeducation, aimed at orienting those suffering from a self-reported eating disorder towards clinical care, providing information about eating concerns and related constructs, and increasing motivation for treatment and illness awareness. The contents shared are based on narratives about people who had recovered from an eating disorder, importance and ability to change, and nutrition management. We have provided an overview of the needs of the Instagram profile users, a description of the main interactions recorded since the profile was opened, and examples of the unmet needs shared by users in direct messages. Future directions of the project concern the definition and formalization of the type of support provided by developing a psychoeducational and integrated program and also, the formulation of a research protocol able to assess the usability, effectiveness, and satisfaction of the Instagram profile.

Keywords: feedback; feeding and eating disorders; motivation; online social networking; self-help groups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2389/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2389/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2389-:d:1049783

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().