Abstract
This study explores the intricate relationship between social support and eating behaviors in children and adolescents, considering the mediating role of eating self-efficacy and the moderating effects of body mass index (BMI) and weight concern. Data from 1986 primary and secondary school students aged 8 to 17 in Shanghai, China, were analyzed using moderated mediation analysis. The results demonstrate a robust positive association between social support and eating self-efficacy, particularly prominent among individuals with low BMI (effect = 0.506, 95% CI [0.376, 0.636]). Moreover, the study highlights that eating behavior is influenced not only by eating self-control (β = -0.054, 95% CI [-0.062, -0.046]) but also by the interaction term between individuals' perceptions of their body weight (β = -0.0008, 95% CI [-0.0015, -0.0001]). Eating self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the relationship between social support and eating behavior, modulated by BMI and weight concern. Importantly, high weight concern significantly strengthens the mediating effect of eating self-efficacy on the relationship between social support and eating behavior, regardless of BMI.
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