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Self-efficacy and risky eating behaviour in Chilean students: the mediating role of social anxiety.

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Title: Self-efficacy and risky eating behaviour in Chilean students: the mediating role of social anxiety.
Alternate Title: Autoeficacia y conductas alimentarias de riesgo en estudiantes chilenos: el rol mediador de la ansiedad social.
Authors: Hun, Nelson1 nelsonhunga@santotomas.cl, Henríquez, Diego2, Caqueo-Urízar, Alejandra3
Source: Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición. jul-sep2026, Vol. 76 Issue 3, p227-234. 8p.
Abstract (English): Introduction. Risky eating behaviours can lead to social isolation, as sufferers avoid food-related situations, limiting their interaction with friends and family and increasing their sense of loneliness. Although psychological factors such as self-efficacy and social anxiety influence these behaviours, their study has been limited, especially in adolescents. Objective. This study aims to analyse the mediating role of social anxiety in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky eating behaviours in students from three independent samples in Arica, Chile. Materials and methods. The first sample included 206 adolescents (115 females and 91 males) aged 12-18 years (M=14.39, SD=1.66); the second, 301 adolescents (167 females and 134 males) aged 12-18 years (M=15.46, SD=1.17); and the third, 321 adolescents (189 females and 132 males) aged 12-19 years (M=14.87, SD=1.72). Simple mediation models using structural equations were used to assess the mediating effect of social anxiety on the relationship between self-efficacy and risky eating behaviours. Results. The estimated models across the three samples suggest that adolescents with higher levels of self-efficacy have lower levels of social anxiety, which is associated with a decrease in risky eating behaviours. Conclusions. The consistent replication of the mediation model across three independent cohorts provides empirical support for its applicability among Chilean students. In all three samples, higher self-efficacy was associated with lower social anxiety, which, in turn, was related to fewer risky eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): Introducción. Las conductas alimentarias de riesgo pueden derivar en aislamiento social. Quienes las presentan tienden a evitar situaciones relacionadas con la comida, limitando su interacción con pares y familiares, aumentando los sentimientos de soledad. Aunque factores psicológicos como la autoeficacia y la ansiedad social influyen en estas conductas, su estudio ha sido limitado, especialmente en los adolescentes. Objetivo. Analizar el rol mediador de la ansiedad social en la relación entre la autoeficacia y las conductas alimentarias de riesgo en estudiantes de la ciudad de Arica, Chile pertenecientes a tres muestras independientes. Materiales y métodos. La primera muestra incluyó a 206 adolescentes (115 mujeres y 91 hombres) de entre 12 y 18 años (M=14,39; DE=1,66); la segunda, a 301 adolescentes (167 mujeres y 134 hombres) de entre 12 y 18 años (M=15,46; DE=1,17); y la tercera, a 321 adolescentes (189 mujeres y 132 hombres) de entre 12 y 19 años (M=14,87; DE=1,72). Se utilizaron modelos de mediación simple mediante ecuaciones estructurales para evaluar el efecto mediador de la ansiedad social en la relación entre autoeficacia y conductas alimentarias de riesgo. Resultados. Los modelos estimados en las tres muestras sugieren que los adolescentes con mayores niveles de autoeficacia presentan menores niveles de ansiedad social, lo que se asocia con una disminución en las conductas alimentarias de riesgo. Conclusiones. La replicación consistente del modelo de mediación en tres cohortes independientes aporta respaldo empírico para su aplicación en estudiantes chilenos. En las tres muestras, una mayor autoeficacia se asoció con una menor ansiedad social, la cual, a su vez, se relacionó con menos conductas alimentarias de riesgo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: MedicLatina
Description
Abstract:Introduction. Risky eating behaviours can lead to social isolation, as sufferers avoid food-related situations, limiting their interaction with friends and family and increasing their sense of loneliness. Although psychological factors such as self-efficacy and social anxiety influence these behaviours, their study has been limited, especially in adolescents. Objective. This study aims to analyse the mediating role of social anxiety in the relationship between self-efficacy and risky eating behaviours in students from three independent samples in Arica, Chile. Materials and methods. The first sample included 206 adolescents (115 females and 91 males) aged 12-18 years (M=14.39, SD=1.66); the second, 301 adolescents (167 females and 134 males) aged 12-18 years (M=15.46, SD=1.17); and the third, 321 adolescents (189 females and 132 males) aged 12-19 years (M=14.87, SD=1.72). Simple mediation models using structural equations were used to assess the mediating effect of social anxiety on the relationship between self-efficacy and risky eating behaviours. Results. The estimated models across the three samples suggest that adolescents with higher levels of self-efficacy have lower levels of social anxiety, which is associated with a decrease in risky eating behaviours. Conclusions. The consistent replication of the mediation model across three independent cohorts provides empirical support for its applicability among Chilean students. In all three samples, higher self-efficacy was associated with lower social anxiety, which, in turn, was related to fewer risky eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00040622
DOI:10.37527/2026.76.3.007