Family function and eating behaviours among Hispanic/Latino youth: results from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth).

OBJECTIVE To elucidate mechanisms across family function, home environment and eating behaviours within sociocultural context among Hispanic youth. DESIGN Two models tested via path analysis (youth fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption; empty energy consumption) using data from the Study of Latino Youth (2011-2013). SETTING Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; Bronx, NY; San Diego, CA. PARTICIPANTS Youth (8-16-year-olds), n 1466. RESULTS Youth ate 2·4 servings of FV per d and received 27 % of total energy from empty energies. Perceiving higher acculturative stress was indirectly associated with lower FV consumption via a pathway of low family function and family support for FV (β = -0·013, P 12-year-olds was indirectly associated with lower FV consumption via lower family closeness and family support (β = -0·006, P < 0·001). Household food security was indirectly associated with greater FV consumption via family closeness and family support (β = 0·005, P = 0·003). In contrast, perceiving higher acculturative stress was indirectly associated with higher empty energy consumption (via family closeness and family support: β = 0·003, P = 0·028 and via low family function and low family support: β = 0·008, P = 0·05). Being older was associated with higher consumption of empty energies via family closeness (related to family support: β = 0·04, P = 0·016; parenting strategies for eating: β = 0·002, P = 0·049). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest pathways of influence across demographic and sociocultural context, family dynamics and home environment. The directionality of these associations needs confirmation using longitudinal data.