Greater negative affect reduction expectancies moderate the interactive relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and distress tolerance in predicting loss-of-control eating.

These findings identify NA reduction expectancies as having a strong relationship with LOCE, such that the protective factor of distress tolerance is only relevant when such expectancies are low. Clinical implications suggest that targeting NA reduction expectancies in eating interventions that bolster emotion regulation difficulties and distress tolerance may improve the effectiveness of said interventions. Additionally, stand-alone expectancy interventions should be assessed for the purpose of LOCE reduction. Directions for future research are discussed.