Purpose

This study examined communication between mothers and overweight daughters on weight or weight-related behaviors through the perspective of adult daughters.

Methods

Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze in-depth individual interviews conducted with 15 adult daughters.

Results

Mothers who actively engaged in weight management behaviors, such as dieting and exercising regularly, transmitted these behaviors through modeling and served as continuous sources of verbal guidance on the topic. Weight management was discussed frequently and explicitly. Daughters relied on mothers for motivation in the form of supportive statements consisting of specific recommendations on weight management practices, encouragement to attempt or continue weight management practices, empathy with the struggle of managing weight, and affirmation of practices conducive to weight management. Mothers who did not engage in weight management behaviors were not viewed as credible sources for advice on diet and exercise. Daughters did most of the advice giving and modeling on weight management behaviors. Weight management was discussed infrequently and cautiously. Daughters perceived weight-related messages from mothers as unsolicited and critical.

Conclusion

The results suggest that shared lifestyle goals among family members are important for facilitating supportive communication and engagement in health-promoting behaviors and have implications for family-based weight management interventions.

Little is known of how intergenerational acculturation discrepancy relates to communication skills differences that may influence relationship quality among parents and adult children. Mexican-American mother-daughter dyads (n = 59) were studied using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model to examine dyadic associations of acculturation and communication competence with family functioning and mediation analysis to determine the indirect effect of acculturation discrepancy on family functioning through communication competence differences. Communication competence of mothers exerted significant actor and partner effects on daughter-perceived cohesion and closeness. Higher acculturation discrepancy predicted greater communication competence difference which in turn was associated with lower cohesion and closeness. There was a significant indirect effect of acculturation discrepancy on daughter-perceived cohesion through communication competence difference. Communication competence of mothers impacts their own as well as their daughters' perceptions of dyad cohesion and closeness. Intergenerational discrepant acculturation contributes to discordant communication skills that impair family functioning, which has implications for psychological well-being.

Purpose

This study sought to understand family functioning surrounding weight in Mexican American women with obesity.

Methods

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers and adult daughters (N = 116).

Results

Thematic analysis identified five themes. 1) The communication process drives perception of supportive messages. Messages perceived as non-supportive consist of directives as interventions, confirmation of faults, and critical compliments whereas supportive consist of compliments, encouragement, empathetic listening, and disclosure. 2) Acculturation differences interfere with intergenerational alliance. Differences involve dissonance in communication, behavioural expectations, and weight-related practices. 3) Maladaptive conflict responses contribute to relational strain. These responses include avoidance, withdrawal, and defensiveness. 4) Role transformations alter the generational hierarchical relationship. Daughters serve as role models, caregivers, or collaborators. 5) Low communal coping heightens psychological distress. It does so by challenging family roles, increasing social isolation, and compromising social support.

Conclusion

Obesity interventions for Mexican American women may benefit from targeting relational skills to improve family functioning.

This study examined the relationship between indicators of acculturation and weight loss strategies among Latinas. Latinas residing in the United States longer had more experience with various weight loss strategies (r = 0.24, p = 0.05). Controlling for demographic factors and BMI, years of U.S. residence was related to whether increased physical activity (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01-1.39, p = 0.04) and reduced portion sizes (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.02-1.91, p = 0.03) were used as strategies for weight loss. More English spoken at home was associated with use of reducing calories as a strategy for weight loss (OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.06-16.09, p = 0.04). Regardless of acculturation level, less empirically supported methods such as using herbal products and a girdle were more prevalent than commonly recommended methods such as using meal replacement products and commercial weight loss programs. Behavioral weight loss interventions for Latinas should consider acculturation to more effectively target subgroups, address cultural practices, and teach lifestyle-appropriate strategies.

Objectives

We examined whether social networks and resource awareness for physical activity may mediate the relationship between civic group participation and physical activity.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of a randomly selected sample of 335 Latinos (mean age 42.1 ± 16.4 years) participating in the San Diego Prevention Research Center's 2009 Household Community Survey. Serial multiple mediation analysis tested the hypothesis that civic group participation is associated with meeting physical activity recommendations through an indirect mechanism of larger social networks followed by greater knowledge of physical activity community resources.

Results

The indirect effects of level of civic group participation as well as religious, health, neighborhood, or arts group participation on meeting national physical activity recommendations were significant in models testing pathways through social network size and physical activity resource awareness. The direct effect was only significant for health group indicating that participating in a health group predicted physical activity independent of social network size and awareness of physical activity resources.

Conclusion

Belonging to civic groups may promote physical activity engagement through social network diffusion of information on community physical activity resources which has implications for health.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) comprise the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 3 in 10 deaths. Individuals with certain risk factors, including tobacco use, obesity, low levels of physical activity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, racial/ethnic minority status and low socioeconomic status, experience higher rates of CVD and are, therefore, considered priority populations. Technological devices such as computers and smartphones are now routinely utilized in research studies aiming to prevent CVD and its risk factors, and they are also rampant in the public and private health sectors. Traditional health behavior interventions targeting these risk factors have been adapted for technology-based approaches. This review provides an overview of technology-based interventions conducted in these priority populations as well as the challenges and gaps to be addressed in future research. Researchers currently possess tremendous opportunities to engage in technology-based implementation and dissemination science to help spread evidence-based programs focusing on CVD risk factors in these and other priority populations.

Family-level interventions have the potential to address intergenerational obesity among Mexican American women. Given that poor family functioning is associated with worse weight loss outcomes, this study tested a weight management program aimed at improving relational functioning in mothers and daughters with obesity. Mexican American mothers and their adult daughters were randomly assigned to participate in a 16-week group-based standard behavioral (SB) weight loss program without or with relationship skills training (SRT). Relational functioning was assessed via observational behavioral coding using the Global Structural Family Rating Scale. General relational functioning and specifically positive alliance patterns and conflict avoidance improved significantly more in the SRT group than in the SB group. Average weight changes included percent weight loss of -5.6% in the SRT group versus -3.9% in the SB group and body mass index reduction of -2.2 kg/m2 in the SRT group versus -1.2 kg/m2 in the SB group. More participants in the SRT group (75%) than in the SB group (40%) tended to achieve at least 3% weight loss. Greater changes in positive alliance patterns increased the likelihood of losing 3% of body weight. Improving relational functioning in mother-daughter dyads may promote favorable outcomes in a behavioral weight loss intervention.

Objective

Despite data linking the social environment to physical inactivity in Latinas, research on social network predictors of physical activity (PA) is limited. This study examined social network predictors of PA change in Latinas.

Methods

Egocentric network data were collected from 102 adult Latinas (egos) participating in a randomized controlled PA intervention trial for underactive women. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was measured in minutes per week using the 7-Day PA Recall Interview and accelerometers at baseline and 12 months. Analyses characterized social network structure, composition, tie strength, homogeneity, and support for PA and determined the relationship between network characteristics and PA outcomes.

Results

Networks had an average of four social ties (alters). Networks were high in density and transitivity and low in components, indicating high cohesion. Networks were primarily composed of females, Latinos, Spanish-speakers, and family members. Relationship ties were strong as evidenced by close living proximity, in-person contact, high emotional closeness, and long relationship duration. There was high homogeneity in demographics and PA behaviors. Multivariate analyses revealed that network size, familial ties, contact frequency, and ego-alter dissimilarities in age and running but similarities in walking, were associated with increased MVPA. Networks high in support for PA in the form of complimenting ego on exercise, taking over chores to allow ego to exercise, and co-participating with ego in exercise were also associated with greater MVPA.

Conclusion

These findings contribute to better understanding interpersonal processes that may influence behavior change in a group with especially low levels of PA.

Objective

Shared behaviors have been implicated in the clustering of obesity among socially connected people. This study determined how weight and weight control behaviors of participants and their social ties are related and how these factors are associated with weight change in participants.

Method

Adult Latinas participating in a lifestyle intervention completed an egocentric network measure of weight and weight control behaviors. Participant weight was objectively measured at baseline and 12 months. Multivariable regression models determined the relationship between weight and weight control behaviors of participants and their social ties.

Results

Participants and their social ties shared similarities in weight control behaviors and weight change. Participants who reported social ties that had lost weight were more likely to eat small portions and low-fat foods, but those with social ties that had gained weight were more likely to use herbal supplements. Participants who reported more social ties who exercised, drank liquid meal replacements, took herbal supplements, and self-weighed were more likely to lose weight whereas those with fewer social ties that exercised were more likely to gain weight. Weight loss and weight gain by social ties predicted participant weight loss and weight gain, respectively.

Conclusions

Given that weight and weight control behaviors of Latinas reflect that of their social ties, targeting existing social networks for lifestyle interventions may more effectively improve and sustain health-promoting behaviors and outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record