Family Function And Eating Behaviours Among Hispanic/Latino Youth: Results From The Hispanic Community Children'S Health Study/Study Of Latino Youth (Sol Youth)

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 center dot 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 (beta = -0 center dot 013, P < 0 center dot 001) and via lower family closeness and family support (beta = -0 center dot 004, P = 0 center dot 004). Being >12-year-olds was indirectly associated with lower FV consumption via lower family closeness and family support (beta = -0 center dot 006, P < 0 center dot 001). Household food security was indirectly associated with greater FV consumption via family closeness and family support (beta = 0 center dot 005, P = 0 center dot 003). In contrast, perceiving higher acculturative stress was indirectly associated with higher empty energy consumption (via family closeness and family support: beta = 0 center dot 003, P = 0 center dot 028 and via low family function and low family support: beta = 0 center dot 008, P = 0 center dot 05). Being older was associated with higher consumption of empty energies via family closeness (related to family support: beta = 0 center dot 04, P = 0 center dot 016; parenting strategies for eating: beta = 0 center dot 002, P = 0 center dot 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.