Family Function and Eating Behaviours among Hispanic/Latino Youth: Results from the Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth)

Citation

Colón-Ramos, Uriyoan; Monge-Rojas, R.; Smith-Castro, Vanessa; Wang, J.; Cheng, Y. I.; Perreira, Krista M.; Van Horn, Linda V.; Sotres-Alvarez, Daniela T.; Isasi, Carmen R.; & Gallo, Linda C. (Online ahead of print). Family Function and Eating Behaviours among Hispanic/Latino Youth: Results from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth). Public Health Nutrition.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate mechanisms across family function, home environment and eating behaviours within sociocultural context among Hispanic youth.
DESIGN: Two models tested via path analysis (youth fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption; empty energy consumption) using data from the Study of Latino Youth (2011-2013).
SETTING: Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; Bronx, NY; San Diego, CA.
PARTICIPANTS: Youth (8-16-year-olds), n 1466.
RESULTS: Youth ate 2·4 servings of FV per d and received 27 % of total energy from empty energies. Perceiving higher acculturative stress was indirectly associated with lower FV consumption via a pathway of low family function and family support for FV (β = -0·013, P < 0·001) and via lower family closeness and family support (β = -0·004, P = 0·004). Being >12-year-olds was indirectly associated with lower FV consumption via lower family closeness and family support (β = -0·006, P < 0·001). Household food security was indirectly associated with greater FV consumption via family closeness and family support (β = 0·005, P = 0·003). In contrast, perceiving higher acculturative stress was indirectly associated with higher empty energy consumption (via family closeness and family support: β = 0·003, P = 0·028 and via low family function and low family support: β = 0·008, P = 0·05). Being older was associated with higher consumption of empty energies via family closeness (related to family support: β = 0·04, P = 0·016; parenting strategies for eating: β = 0·002, P = 0·049).
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest pathways of influence across demographic and sociocultural context, family dynamics and home environment. The directionality of these associations needs confirmation using longitudinal data.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1368980020001457

Reference Type

Journal Article

Article Type

Regular

Year Published

Online ahead of print

Journal Title

Public Health Nutrition

Author(s)

Colón-Ramos, Uriyoan
Monge-Rojas, R.
Smith-Castro, Vanessa
Wang, J.
Cheng, Y. I.
Perreira, Krista M.
Van Horn, Linda V.
Sotres-Alvarez, Daniela T.
Isasi, Carmen R.
Gallo, Linda C.

Data Set/Study

Study of Latino Youth (2011-2013)

Continent/Country

United States of America

State

Nonspecific

Race/Ethnicity

Hispanic/Latinx