Strengthening Support: improving recovery

I have always been interested in how our connections with other peoplelift us up - or hold us back. My research seeks answers to this and other questions. Every study also raises a lot more questions and I enjoy trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.

What inspired my research?

From a young age, I've been fascinated by human behaviour and the world around me. However, it wasn’t until my first year at university that I realised this passion could shape my career. The turning point came during a careers evening, where one of my lecturers shared her inspiring journey into academia, and this sowed the first seeds for me.

The final year of my undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology was relatively unstructured, allowing me to tailor the course to my interests, and I had the freedom to direct my own learning, explore my passions and manage my time independently. I thrived in this environment. Embracing this newfound enthusiasm for research, I then applied for and was awarded a PhD scholarship. This marked the beginning of my journey into the world of academic research, a journey that continues to inspire me every day.

My first job after completing my PhD was at the University of Limerick in Ireland, within a newly established Department of Psychology. It was here that I delved into the theoretical framework that now underpins my research – the Social Identity Approach to Health. This intriguing framework examines how our memberships of certain social groups shape our daily lives, protect our wellbeing and influence our responses to challenges and hardships.

Today, much of my work revolves around how individuals navigate significant life events or transitions, such as starting university, relocating, retiring, or dealing with a mental illness diagnosis and recovery. I am to understand how these changes impact their social networks and what changes they need – or are compelled – to make as they enter new life chapters.

My primary focus is on understanding how social relationships influence recovery from eating disorders. Those who have recovered often highlight the crucial role of social support and the process of re-discovering an identity separate from their illness. Despite their importance, these aspects are often overlooked in traditional eating disorder treatment.

I have been conducting research with individuals living with or recovering from eating disorders. My goal is to identify which social groups are particularly supportive – or detrimental – to their recovery and to examine how these groups, both individually or collectively, impact their symptoms.

Eating disorders affect 1.25 million people in the UK and impact an additional 4-5 million of their family members. Without effective treatment, these disorders can become debilitating and life-threatening. A significant challenge is the 31% relapse rate after treatment, which often occurs in the first-year post-discharge. I believe this happens because current treatments fail to address all of the element that are essential for recovery, particularly the social isolation and loneliness that often precede relapse.

My research has found a clear link between social factors, disordered eating symptoms and overall quality of life. To reduce relapse rates, it is crucial to integrate and support safe social connections into eating disorder treatment. This involves engaging peer support groups and workers early in the recovery process and broadening support outside of the eating disorder community. By helping individuals connect with their broader communities and engage with groups that represent their identity, or parts of their identity lost during their illness, we can create a more holistic and supportive recovery environment.

Since 2012, I have forged a close collaboration with Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, which provides essential support to individuals with eating disorders and their families. When the Irish Health Service sought to develop a new model of care for eating disorders, Bodywhys was determined to ensure that peer support became a core component of this model. They utilised my research to highlight the role and value of support services as a vital complement to the clinical treatment provided.

I'm proud that my work has contributed to Bodywhys’ efforts to promote and reinforce the evidence base for their support services. This collaboration has helped establish Bodywhys as the ‘support partner’ in the Irish National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders, integrating peer support into the national treatment framework and enhancing the overall care provided to individuals on their recovery journey.

My research is a central part of who I am, and it’s something that I want to do well. I feel a responsibility for those who give their time to take part in the research, and for those whose lives I am trying to improve.

Follow my story

My story doesn’t end here. Keep up to date with me and my research by keeping an eye on my academic profile.

Niamh McNamara

Niamh is an Associate Professor in Social Psychology and leads the Groups, Identities, & Health Research Group. She is also the Early Career Researcher mentoring lead for the School of Social Sciences.

Her research interests lie at the boundary of social and health psychology and are concerned with the implications of group memberships (and the social identities derived from them) for health.

Explore Niamh's staff profile