Digital Safe Haven; Understanding Online Support Networks for Individuals with Eating Disorders

Abstract

This thesis explores how individuals with eating disorders experience and make sense of participating in an anonymous online support forum. The study examines how users describe emotional support, community belonging, self-presentation, and recovery processes within this digital space. A key focus is placed on how anonymity shapes identity work and fosters openness in ways that differ from offline interactions. The main argument is that the forum functions as more than just a support platform – it becomes a space for emotional labour, identity negotiation, and the construction of alternative narratives around disordered eating. The study draws on theoretical concepts from Erving Goffman (self-presentation), Pierre Bourdieu (habitus and social capital), and Sara Ahmed (emotional orientation and belonging) to analyse the ways users navigate norms, recognition, and care in a digital environment. Methodologically, the study is based on digital ethnography, including participant observation, forum analysis, and six semi-structured interviews conducted through voice and text. The thesis is written in English.