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 2.4 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.