title: Self-esteem, diet self-efficacy, body mass index, and eating disorders: modeling effects in an ethnically diverse sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Disordered eating patterns, particularly binge eating, are prevalent in Hispanic samples, yet the biopsychosocial risk factors remain understudied in minority populations. The relationship between diet self-efficacy and bulimic symptoms has been established in non-Hispanic white samples but not yet in Hispanics. This study sought to identify the direct role of diet self-efficacy on eating disorder risk and symptomology in a multicultural Hispanic sample, and to investigate the potential indirect relations among diet self-efficacy, self-esteem, body mass index (BMI), and eating disorder risk and symptomology in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study surveyed 1339 college students from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Participants completed four standardized scales to assess acculturation, diet self-efficacy, global self-esteem, and eating disorder symptomology and risk. Self-reported height and weight were used for BMI calculations, and the data were analyzed in a robust maximum-likelihood structural equation modeling (SEM) framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings highlighted diet self-efficacy as a predictor of eating disorder risk and symptomology. Diet self-efficacy partially explained the covariation between self-esteem and eating disorder risk and symptomology, and between BMI and eating disorder risk and symptomology for the entire sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diet self-efficacy emerged as an important construct to consider in developing eating disorder prevention and treatment models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1510-7471
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA. frazier@fiu.edu.
authors.forename: Leslie D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Nichols-Lopez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Culture; Diet self-efficacy; Eating disorder risk; Obesity; Self-esteem