Family Cohesion and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Among Mexican Origin Adolescents: A Longitudinal Perspective.
BACKGROUND
Existing racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity during childhood increase Hispanics' risk of developing chronic diseases, which serves to increase health disparities. This study examined associations of family cohesion and conflict with self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), controlling for psychosocial covariates such as subjective social status, anxiety, and sensation-seeking.


METHODS
1000 Mexican origin adolescents reported their MVPA levels approximately 2 years apart. Psychosocial covariates, family cohesion and conflict were measured at the first assessment. Generalized Linear Models were used to prospectively examine the relationship between family cohesion and conflict and subsequent MVPA based on 711 participants who had low levels of baseline MVPA.


RESULTS
35% of boys and 24% of girls reported adequate MVPA levels at follow-up; girls were less likely to report adequate MVPA (RR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61-0.93) than boys. Overall, family cohesion was associated with MVPA (P = .01), but family cohesion was not (P = .41). Gender-based analyses revealed that adequate MVPA was associated with family cohesion (RR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.03-1.88), sensation seeking (RR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00-1.10), and age (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.98) among girls and with subjective social status (RR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.08-1.33) among boys.


CONCLUSIONS
The family social environment and gender differences should be addressed in health promotion programs targeting MVPA.
Dept of Epidemiology, Human Genetic, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin, TX.
Galya
G
Bigman
Vandita
V
Rajesh
Laura M
LM
Koehly
Larkin L
LL
Strong
Abiodun O
AO
Oluyomi
Sara S
SS
Strom
Anna V
AV
Wilkinson
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment