title: "It Hurts a Latina When They Tell Us Anything About Our Children": Implications of Mexican-Origin Mothers' Maternal Identities, Aspirations, and Attitudes About Cultural Transmission for Childhood Obesity Prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This qualitative study explored values, attitudes, and beliefs held by Mexican-origin mothers of preschool-aged children to enhance understanding of cultural influences on behaviors associated with childhood obesity risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  During face-to-face interviews, 39 Mexican-origin mothers of preschool-aged children discussed their hopes for their children, their image of the perfect mother, Mexican and American foods, why they taught their children about these foods, and their opinions about television (TV) viewing language.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants wanted their children to become successful, "good" people, which necessitated doing well in school. Mothers also wanted their children to know them, which required understanding the mothers' Mexican backgrounds. Mothers wanted their children to maintain Mexican values and identities. Some mothers viewed American culture as harmful. Many participants prepared their child for going to Mexico by exposing them to Mexican culture and foods. Some mothers fed their children American foods to prepare them for school. Perceptions of American foods generally reflected stereotypical unhealthy foods. TV helped teach children Spanish and English. Being a good mother was core to participants' identities; thus, hearing about child overweight made some mothers feel like failures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotion programs may be more salient to mothers if they: underscore how a healthy weight can help children in school; teach mothers to prepare healthy American foods that their children will encounter in kindergarten; assist mothers in teaching their children about Mexico; and present information about childhood obesity in ways that reinforce what mothers are doing well, enhance mothers' self-efficacy, and allay feelings of failure.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina , Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina , Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Ligia I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: 3 The Community Health and Social Services Center, Inc. , Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Shannon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McKenney-Shubert
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification