Theoretical foundations of the Study of Latino (SOL) Youth: implications for obesity and cardiometabolic risk.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the conceptual model developed for the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth, a multisite epidemiologic study of obesity and cardiometabolic risk among U.S. Hispanic/Latino children.


METHODS
Public health, psychology, and sociology research were examined for relevant theories and paradigms. This research, in turn, led us to consider several study design features to best represent both risk and protective factors from multiple levels of influence, as well as the identification of culturally relevant scales to capture identified constructs.


RESULTS
The Socio-Ecological Framework, Social Cognitive Theory, family systems theory, and acculturation research informed the specification of our conceptual model. Data are being collected from both children and parents in the household to examine the bidirectional influence of children and their parents, including the potential contribution of intergenerational differences in acculturation as a risk factor. Children and parents are reporting on individual, interpersonal, and perceived organizational and community influences on children's risk for obesity consistent with Socio-Ecological Framework.


CONCLUSIONS
Much research has been conducted on obesity, yet conceptual models examining risk and protective factors lack specificity in several areas. Study of Latino Youth is designed to fill a gap in this research and inform future efforts.
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA and the Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA. Electronic address: ayala@mail.sdsu.edu.
Guadalupe X
GX
Ayala
Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Mercedes
M
Carnethon
Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA and the Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
Elva
E
Arredondo
Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
Alan M
AM
Delamater
Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Krista
K
Perreira
Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Linda
L
Van Horn
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis.
John H
JH
Himes
Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
John H
JH
Eckfeldt
Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center, Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Shrikant I
SI
Bangdiwala
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL.
Daniel A
DA
Santisteban
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Carmen R
CR
Isasi
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Acculturation; Children; Hispanic/Latino; Obesity; Socio-Ecological Framework; Theory