Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications
Publication Date
5-18-2021
Journal
Children
DOI
10.3390/children8050406
PMID
34069897
PMCID
PMC8157582
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
5-18-2021
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
health disparities, Latinx, young adults, adolescents, social support, family dynamics
Abstract
Given that health behaviors occur within the context of familial social relationships, a deeper understanding of social factors that influence health behaviors in Latinx families is needed to develop more effective diabetes prevention programming. This qualitative study identified perceived family-level social factors that influence health behaviors in Latinx adolescents (12–16 years; N = 16) and young adults (18–24 years; N = 15) with obesity and explored differences in perceptions across sex and age. Participants completed an in-depth interview that was recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic content analysis. Emergent themes central to health behaviors included: perceived parental roles and responsibilities, perceived family social support for health behaviors, and familial social relationships. Mom’s role as primary caregiver and dad’s role as a hard worker were seen as barriers to engaging in health behaviors among adolescent females and young adults, males and females. Adolescents perceived receiving more support compared to young adults and males perceived receiving more support compared to females. Health behaviors in both age groups were shaped through early familial social interactions around physical activity. These insights suggest that traditional gender roles, social support, and social interaction around health behaviors are critical components for family-based diabetes prevention programs in high-risk Latinx youth and young adults.
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Nutrition Commons, Pediatrics Commons