4 - (SYM 57) Disordered Eating and Emotion Dysregulation in Relation to Real-time Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents

Introduction: Disordered eating and emotion dysregulation are independent risk factors for suicidal ideation (SI) among adolescents. Prior research suggests that individuals often engage in disordered eating to regulate intense emotions, making those with emotion dysregulation more likely to endorse disordered eating symptoms. The current study assessed whether emotion dysregulation moderates the relationship between eating disorder symptoms and daily SI among adolescents.

Methods: A sample of 60 adolescents (14-17 years; M_age = 16.15; 49.15% girls; 62% LGBTQ+) were recruited through social media. Participants self-reported emotion dysregulation and past-month disordered eating symptoms (e.g., restrictive eating; eating, weight, and shape concerns) at baseline, then reported daily SI for 8 weeks via ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Multilevel modeling with logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between baseline disordered eating symptoms, baseline emotion dysregulation, and daily SI.

Results: There was not a significant main effect of baseline disordered eating symptoms (B=0.005, SE=0.01, p=0.39) on daily SI. However, there was a significant interaction between baseline disordered eating symptoms and baseline emotion dysregulation (B=0.02, SE=0.01, p< 0.001) predicting daily SI, such that those with baseline disordered eating symptoms and greater emotion dysregulation were most likely to endorse daily SI.

Conclusion: Independently, disordered eating symptoms may not confer risk for SI. However, adolescents with disordered eating and emotion dysregulation may be at greater risk for SI. The current study leveraged an intensive monitoring design; however, future research should harness EMA to elucidate the temporal relationships between disordered eating symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and SI.