Table 3.

Characteristics of the studies that addressed “websites and online forums” according to the authors, year of publication, participants, study design, objectives, and instruments (n=6)

Authors (year)	Participants	Study design	Objectives	Instruments
Rodgers et al41 (2012)	30 female members of online pro-ana communities; mean age was 17.4 years	Exploratory, descriptive	To explore individuals’ motivations to become a member of a French-language “pro-AN” online community, their perceptions of support provided by other members of the site, and the nature of the information provided.	EAT-40 and a Pro-ED online community questionnaire developed by the authors.
Borzekowski et al21 (2010)	180 websites pro-ED	Nonexperimental, descriptive	To examine the features of pro-ED websites that describe, endorse, and support these disorders, and the messages to which users may be exposed.	Systematic content analysis of 180 active websites noting site logistics, site accessories, ‘‘thinspiration’’ material (images and prose intended to inspire weight loss), tips and tricks, recovery, themes, and perceived harm.
Ransom et al29 (2010)	A survey of 60 forum members and 64 age-matched university controls	Experimental	To explore the positive and negative behaviors encouraged on online forums about ED by comparing forum members’ perceptions of support received from online and offline relationships to the support received by age-matched controls in their relationships.	Assessment of body mass index and ED symptoms by the EAT-26. Then, information was collected about the clinical diagnosis, history of treatment, the specific behaviors of ED, the use of online forums, and the social support received by the online forums, and the support received from people with whom participants interact personally.
Csipke and Horne27 (2007)	78 users of pro-ED websites	Nonexperimental, descriptive	To investigate characteristics of users of pro-ED websites and the perceived impact of the visits.	A 24-item questionnaire supplemented with the EAT-26 was developed and posted on the website of the UK mental health charity institution to which the authors are linked. The questionnaire was also posted on the ED website and on two pro-ED websites.
Brotsky and Giles22 (2007)	12 websites pro-AN	Exploratory, descriptive	To investigate the kind of psychological support offered by pro-AN websites. Also, to comprehend website member’s beliefs towards ED, treatment and recovery.	Covert participation and thematic analysis of the topics, concerns, beliefs, and contributions of website users.
Mulveen and Hepworth23 (2006)	15 websites pro-AN	Exploratory, descriptive	To examine the meaning of participation in a pro-AN website and its relationship with disordered eating.	Interpretative phenomenological analysis of 15 separate message “threads” were observed over a 6-week period.

Abbreviations: n, number; EAT, Eating Attitudes Test; ED, eating disorder; AN, anorexia nervosa.