Weight perceptions, disordered eating behaviors, and emotional self-efficacy among high school adolescents

• Logistic regression examined the relationship between disordered eating and adolescent emotional self-efficacy.
• Certain disordered eating behaviors were associated with lower emotional self-efficacy levels.
• Relationships between disordered eating behaviors and emotional self-efficacy differed by race/gender for these adolescents.
• Tailored disordered eating interventions are proposed to accommodate adolescent high risk groups.

Although emotional disorders and disordered eating behaviors are known to be related, the relationship between emotional self-efficacy (ESE) and disordered eating is unknown. This study examined the relationship between ESE and disordered eating in a statewide sample of public high school adolescents (n = 2566). The Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey and an adolescent ESE scale were utilized. Logistic regression adjusted for key covariates explored the relationship between low ESE and disordered eating among selected race and gender groups. Self-perceived weight as underweight or overweight; and dieting, vomiting or taking laxatives, taking diet pills, and fasting to lose weight were each associated (p < .05) with lower levels of ESE for certain race/gender groups. Findings provide increased justification for tailoring disordered eating interventions and treatments to accommodate the highest risk groups. Measures of ESE should be considered for adolescent mental health assessments in fieldwork, research, and evaluation efforts.