Abstract
A qualitative study was conducted to research the perceptions and lived experiences related to Jesus Christ's Atonement among Latter-day-Saint women who have struggled with perfectionism and eating disorders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 women suffering from eating disorders, 19 of whom were in an inpatient treatment program. Findings indicated that when participants were deeply entrenched in perfectionism they had little sincere interest in or desire to learn about the atonement, finding the atonement to be a source of emotional pain and guilt. Participants who confronted their perfectionistic beliefs and actions with openness, vulnerability, and sincerity became more accepting of themselves, more accepting of God's and others' love and support, and more accepting of God's grace offered through the atonement. Clinical implications are suggested.
Recommended Citation
Edgington, Shawn; Richards, P. Scott; Erickson, Martin J.; and Jackson, Aaron P.
(2008)
"Perceptions of Jesus Christ's Atonement Among Latter-day Saint Women with Eating Disorders and Perfectionism,"
Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy: Vol. 32:
No.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/irp/vol32/iss1/4