Emotional eating, the tendency to eat in response to negative emotions, is rising among adolescents and linked to obesity and mental health issues. While negative life events contribute to emotional eating, the roles of self-control and social support remain unclear.

This study examined the relationship between negative life events and emotional eating in adolescents, testing self-control as a mediator and perceived social support as a moderator.

A sample of 740 Chinese high school students (aged 14–18) completed validated measures of negative life events, self-control, perceived social support, and emotional eating. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA)and PROCESS macro for mediation/moderation effects.

Negative life events predicted higher emotional eating (β = 0.11, p < 0.01), while lower self-control mediated this relationship (β = −0.15, p < 0.001). Perceived social support moderated the association (β = −0.09, p < 0.05), weakening it among adolescents with stronger support.

Negative life events increase emotional eating, but self-control and social support play key roles. Interventions targeting these factors may reduce emotional eating and improve adolescent well-being.