Sandra E Larios, BA¹, Guadalupe X. Ayala, PhD, MPH², Barbara Baquero, BA³, Elva M. Arredondo, PhD³, and John P Elder, MPH, PhD³. (1) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, 9245 Sky Park Ct, San Diego, CA 92123, (619) 594-3874, prodigy8k@aol.com, (2) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, CB #7440, Rosenau Hall 315, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, (3) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, San Diego, CA 92123

Childhood obesity has been found to disproportionally affect Latino children. Factors such as lack of physical activity and unhealthy diets contribute to these high rates of obesity. Research has shown that family environments as well as parenting practices shape these behaviors. The present study describes the development of a survey assessing the types of rules parents establish in the home that likely fosters sedentary behavior and unhealthy eating. A total of 5 focus groups, (N=30) were conducted in English and Spanish asking Latinas about the home rules and consequences that pertain to their children’s physical activity and nutrition. Focus group data were used to generate survey items, which were pilot tested for its psychometric properties among a Latina sample (N=91) in English and Spanish. Our sample included women age 21 through 74 with a mean age of 37. Approximately 78% of our pilot sample was born in Mexico or another country and had a mean of residence in the United States of 17 years. Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded 5 factors (parental concern, limit setting, monitoring, consequences, and reinforcement strategies) explaining 55% of the variance. We are currently collecting data from approximately 300 subjects so that we may confirm our data. Previous research has never examined parental influence on eating and physical activity as a function of rules that may be implemented in the home environment. This survey will aid in future interventions so that this type of environmental influence may be tracked and targeted.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Identify 5 home environmental factors that influence the development of obesity in the Hispanic community.
• Descibe the importance of including home environmental factors in the development of interventions.
• Develop an intervention for this community including parental influences on eating and physical activity as a function of the home environment.

Keywords: Hispanic, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.