Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Characteristics of Social Network Support for Exercise Among Latinas

Purpose: To examine the association between characteristics of social support for exercise and moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among Latinas. Design: This cross-sectional study used baseline data from a cluster randomized controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted in 16 churches located in San Diego County. Participants: Participants (N = 436) were Latinas between 18 and 65 years old who did not self-report >150 minutes or did not exceed 250 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week measured by accelerometer. Measures: Latinas listed up to 6 individuals who had provided support for exercise within the past 6 months, including their gender, relationship with the respondent, types of support provided, and respondent’s satisfaction with support. Self-reported LTPA was dichotomized (none vs any). Analyses: We generated dyads between Latinas who named ≥1 supporter (n = 323) and each supporter they named (n = 569 dyads). Logistic regression analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations to adjust for multiple observations per participant. Results: Having an exercise partner (odds ratio [OR]: 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-4.62), help with household duties (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.35-3.38), being “very much” satisfied with support (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.26-4.30), and naming >2 supporters (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.06-6.25) was positively associated with LTPA. Conclusions: Findings suggest specific aspects of support for exercise that should be targeted in future interventions to promote LTPA

Exploring how bicultural and assimilated children of Mexican origin influence their Latina mothers' diet: Perspectives from mothers and children

Social and cultural factors influence dietary intake and behaviors. Research shows that mothers consume a lower quality diet when they have a child who is assimilated to the US culture versus bicultural. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively compare how bicultural and assimilated children influenced their culturally traditional mothers' dietary intake/behaviors. Separate one-on-one interviews with 21 Mexican-origin mothers and their bicultural (n = 11) or assimilated (n = 10) children (10–13 years old) were conducted. We used framework analysis to reduce qualitative data to themes and subthemes. Data were analyzed separately and then compared between mothers of bicultural versus assimilated children. Mothers of bicultural children reported typically having an easier time consuming a better quality diet than mothers of assimilated children. For example, although all children requested non-traditional foods, bicultural children were typically more accepting of their mothers preparing traditional healthier foods than assimilated children. Furthermore, mothers believed their children's food preferences both influenced and were influenced by their own feeding styles. Mothers of bicultural children described using more “Mexican” (i.e., authoritative) feeding styles that they believed shaped their children's palate into preferring traditional foods. Mothers of assimilated children explained that their children's preference for non-traditional foods resulted in their use of more permissive or indulgent feeding styles. Longitudinal research is needed to test and confirm the directionality between feeding styles and child's food preferences. Interventions may need to consider the reciprocal influences between mothers' feeding styles, children's food preferences, and how children influence their mothers' dietary intake/behavior

Lessons Learned From a Feasibility Study Delivered in 2 WIC Sites to Promote Physical Activity Among Pregnant Latinas

Objective: To assess the feasibility, including demand for and acceptability of a physical activity (PA) intervention among pregnant Latinas recruited at the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods: Women <20 weeks gestation and self-reporting <150 minutes of PA/wk were recruited from 2 WIC locations in Southern California. The 9-wk, promotora-led intervention included 1-hour sessions and 2 walking groups/wk. Results: WIC was supportive of recruitment, intervention, and evaluation activities. Of an estimated pool of 525 women at <20 wks gestation, 141 expressed interest, 108 were screened for eligibility, and 21 were enrolled. Of the 21 who enrolled, 12 completed the postintervention assessment (7 in the participant group and 5 in the nonparticipant group). Conclusions and Implications: Demand and acceptability will need to be improved before this intervention can be considered feasible, potentially by extending eligibility and improving access to intervention

Depression and Chronic Health Conditions Among Latinos: The Role of Social Networks

The purpose of this study was to examine the “buffering hypothesis” of social network characteristics in the association between chronic conditions and depression among Latinos. Cross-sectional self-report data from the San Diego Prevention Research Center’s community survey of Latinos were used (n = 393). Separate multiple logistic regression models tested the role of chronic conditions and social network characteristics in the likelihood of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Having a greater proportion of the network comprised of friends increased the likelihood of depression among those with high cholesterol. Having a greater proportion of women in the social network was directly related to the increased likelihood of depression, regardless of the presence of chronic health conditions. Findings suggest that network characteristics may play a role in the link between chronic conditions and depression among Latinos. Future research should explore strategies targeting the social networks of Latinos to improve health outcomes

Effects of Latino children on their mothers' dietary intake and dietary behaviors: The role of children's acculturation and the mother-child acculturation gap

Rationale Research shows that acculturation is important to Latinas' dietary intake and related behaviors. Although evidence suggests children may also play a role, it remains unclear whether children's acculturation is related to mothers' dietary intake/behaviors. Objectives We examined the relationship between Latino children's acculturation and mothers' dietary intake/behaviors. We also examined the mother-child acculturation gap to identify dyad characteristics associated with mothers' diet. Methods Baseline surveys were collected in 2010 from 314 Latino mother-child (7–13 years old) dyads of Mexican-origin enrolled in a family-based dietary intervention in Southern California, USA. Mother's daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and sugary beverages, percent of calories from fat, weekly away-from-home eating, and percent of weekly grocery dollars spent on fruits and vegetables were assessed via self-report. Mothers' and children's bidimensional acculturation were examined using acculturation groups (e.g., assimilated, bicultural) derived from Hispanic and non-Hispanic dimensions of language. We also assessed the acculturation gap between mothers and children with the a) difference in acculturation between mothers' and children's continuous acculturation scores and b) mother-child acculturation gap typologies (e.g., traditional mothers of assimilated children). Results Findings show that having an assimilated versus a bicultural child was negatively associated with mothers' vegetable intake and positively associated with mothers' sugary beverage intake, percent of calories from fat, and frequency of away-from-home eating, regardless of mothers’ acculturation. Traditional mothers of assimilated children reported more sugary beverage intake, calories from fat, and more frequent away-from-home eating than traditional mothers of bicultural children. Conclusion Results suggest that children's acculturation is associated with their mothers' dietary intake/behaviors and traditional mothers of assimilated children require more attention in future research

Associations of Acculturation With Self-Report and Objective Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors Among Latinas

Background. Less than 50% of Latinas meet physical activity (PA) recommendations. Acculturation is a complex cultural phenomenon that may influence health behaviors, but associations between acculturation and Latinas’ activity and sedentary levels are unclear. Aim. To examine associations of acculturation with Latinas’ domain-specific and total PA as well as sedentary time. Method. We analyzed baseline data collected between 2011 and 2013 among 410 Latinas (18-65 years) from a PA promotion intervention in San Diego, CA (Fe en Acción/Faith in Action). Participants wore an accelerometer to assess moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary time and completed a survey assessing domain-specific PA, sociodemographics, and acculturation as measured by length of residence in the United States and the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale (BAS) for Hispanics. Higher acculturation was defined as longer residence in the United States or being either assimilated or bicultural as per scores on the Hispanic and Anglo domains of the BAS. Results. Based on weekly averages from the accelerometer, Latinas spent 103 minutes in MVPA and 76% of total activity in sedentary time. Only 32% met MVPA recommendations via self-reported leisure-time and transportation PA. Longer residence in the United States was inversely associated with reporting any transportation or occupational PA and meeting MVPA recommendations. Assimilated/bicultural Latinas had significantly less accelerometer-based total MVPA and higher sedentary time than their lower acculturated counterparts. Conclusions. Overall, higher acculturation, based on either measure, was related to less activity. Our findings suggest interventions tailored to the acculturation levels of Latinas are needed to help reduce disparities in Latinas’ PA and sedentary behaviors

Family environment, children's acculturation and mothers' dietary intake and behaviors among Latinas: An autoregressive cross-lagged study

Background: Many Latinos in the U.S. do not meet dietary recommendations for healthy eating. Family systems theory posits that the family environment affects family members' dietary behaviors. Moreover, research suggests that children's acculturation is associated with Latina mothers' dietary intake and behaviors. Purpose: This longitudinal study examined the effect of the family environment on Latina mothers’ dietary intake and behaviors. Further, we examined whether these effects differed between mothers of assimilated versus bicultural children. Methods: Secondary data were collected at three time points (baseline, and four and 10 months' post-baseline) from 162 culturally traditional and bicultural Latina mothers residing in Imperial County, California, U.S. Participants were enrolled in the delayed treatment group of a randomized controlled trial. Mothers' daily fruit, vegetable, and sugary beverages intake, percent of calories from fat, weekly away-from-home eating, and percent of weekly grocery dollars spent on fruits and vegetables were examined. The family environment was measured by family expressiveness and family interactions around food. Separate autoregressive cross-lagged models examined the effects of the family environment on dietary outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Interactions between the family environment and children's acculturation were also tested. Results: Less positive family interactions around food at baseline predicted more frequent away-from-home eating four months later among mothers of assimilated children. More family expressiveness at four months predicted more grocery dollars spent on fruits and vegetables at ten months among mothers of bicultural children. Conclusions: Findings suggest the importance of a positive family environment on socially-bound dietary behaviors (e.g., away-from-home eating) exhibited by the mother. Family interventions aimed at improving dietary intake and associated behaviors should promote a positive family environment around food and consider the moderating role of children's acculturation

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among US Hispanic/Latino Youth: The SOL Youth Study

Purpose: Physical activity and sedentary behavior among diverse Hispanic/Latino youth in the United States is not well documented. The aim of this study was to describe physical activity and sedentary behavior among a representative sample of Hispanic/Latino youth from four US communities using accelerometry and self-reported measures. Methods: From 2012 to 2014, 1466 Hispanic/Latino youth ages 8 to 16 yr, children of participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, enrolled in the SOL youth. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed by interview. After this, youth wore an Actical accelerometer for 1 wk. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex survey design and used sampling weights. Results: The accelerometer wear time adjusted mean minutes per day was: 604.6, sedentary; 178.9, light; 25.4, moderate; and 10.2, vigorous. Generally, higher levels of moderate and vigorous activity occurred among males, Mexican backgrounds, and youth age 8 to 10 yr compared with older age groups. Higher levels of sedentary behavior occurred among youth age 15 to 16 yr compared with younger age groups. The most common activities (reported, ≥1 per month) were of lower intensity, including listening to music (91.9%), homework (87.0%), riding in car/bus (84.3%), and hanging out with friends (83.4%). Common active pursuits included travel by walking (74.6%), physical education class (71.7%), running (71.4%), and recess (71.3%). Conclusions: Time, intensity, and type of physical activity and sedentary behavior varied among Hispanic/Latino youth. These findings can inform efforts to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among US Hispanic/Latino youth

Accelerometer-measured sedentary time among Hispanic adults: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Excessive sedentary behavior is associated with negative health outcomes independent of physical activity. Objective estimates of time spent in sedentary behaviors are lacking among adults from diverse Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. The objective of this study was to describe accelerometer-assessed sedentary time in a large, representative sample of Hispanic/Latino adults living in the United States, and compare sedentary estimates by Hispanic/Latino background, sociodemographic characteristics and weight categories. This study utilized baseline data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) that included adults aged 18-74. years from four metropolitan areas (N. =. 16,415). Measured with the Actical accelerometer over 6. days, 76.9% (n. =. 12,631) of participants had >10. h/day and >3. days of data. Participants spent 11.9. h/day (SD 3.0), or 74% of their monitored time in sedentary behaviors. Adjusting for differences in wear time, adults of Mexican background were the least (11.6. h/day), whereas adults of Dominican background were the most (12.3. h/day), sedentary. Women were more sedentary than men, and older adults were more sedentary than younger adults. Household income was positively associated, whereas employment was negatively associated, with sedentary time. There were no differences in sedentary time by weight categories, marital status, or proxies of acculturation. To reduce sedentariness among these populations, future research should examine how the accumulation of various sedentary behaviors differs by background and region, and which sedentary behaviors are amenable to intervention

Near to Mid-infrared Spectroscopy of (65803) Didymos as Observed by JWST: Characterization Observations Supporting the Double Asteroid Redirection Test

The Didymos binary asteroid was the target of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which intentionally impacted Dimorphos, the smaller member of the binary system. We used the Near-Infrared Spectrograph and Mid-Infrared Instrument instruments on JWST to measure the 0.6-5 and 5-20 μm spectra of Didymos approximately two months after the DART impact. These observations confirm that Didymos belongs to the S asteroid class and is most consistent with LL chondrite composition, as was previously determined from its 0.6-2.5 μm reflectance spectrum. Measurements at wavelengths >2.5 μm show Didymos to have thermal properties typical for an S-complex asteroid of its size and to be lacking absorptions deeper than ∼2% due to OH or H2O. Didymos’ mid-infrared emissivity spectrum is within the range of what has been measured on S-complex asteroids observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope and is most consistent with emission from small (<25 μm) surface particles. We conclude that the observed reflectance and physical properties make the Didymos system a good proxy for the type of ordinary chondrite asteroids that cross near-Earth space, and a good representative of likely future impactors. © 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]