Anorexia in times of Covid-19: what can we learn from thematic analysis of Twitter posts

Abstract To examine how individuals with anorexia nervosa expressed and navigated their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through analysis of social media discourse, with particular attention to the mediation of lived experience through digital platforms. The study analyzed 155 English-language tweets containing keywords related to anorexia nervosa and COVID-19, collected over a 14-month period using systematic data collection protocols. Content underwent rigorous thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's a ( Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 9, 2014) methodological framework, with two independent coders achieving 84% reliability in identifying semantic themes through iterative analytical refinement. Analysis revealed five interconnected themes characterizing the technological mediation of pandemic experiences: (1) The dialectic between visibility and concealment in digital spaces; (2) Reconfiguration of isolation and social connection through online platforms; (3) Digital expressions of spatial boundaries and safety during restrictions; (4) Virtual articulation of movement and embodiment; and (5) Technological mediation of pandemic-related body perception. These themes illuminate how social media platforms simultaneously enabled expression of distress while shaping manifestations of the “anorexic voice” during unprecedented social disruption. This analysis of naturalistic social media discourse provides crucial insight into how individuals with anorexia nervosa navigated periods of widespread disruption, while revealing the complex role of digital platforms in mediating these experiences. The findings contribute to understanding both immediate clinical implications and broader theoretical frameworks around technological mediation of eating disorder experiences during social restriction periods.