“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.

Targeting family functioning, acculturative stress, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption for obesity prevention: Findings from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth

“…For instance, children's SSB consumption may be in uenced by acculturative factors through parents' behaviors, practices, and their role shaping the home environment. [48][49][50][51] Also, we did not test for differences across Hispanic/Latino heritages due to small sample sizes, although studies among Hispanic/Latino adults have shown differences in acculturation and in SSB by heritage. 52, geographic location of study recruitment.…”

Targeting family functioning, acculturative stress, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption for obesity prevention: findings from the Hispanic community children’s health study/study of Latino youth

“…Thus, we are unable to make causal inferences, but rather report on the cross-sectional links (or lack thereof) and encourage future research that can elucidate the potential causal pathways (i.e., mediating factors at the family, home, and policy levels). For instance, children’s SSB consumption may be influenced by acculturative factors through parents’ behaviors, practices, and their role shaping the home environment [ 48 – 51 ]. Also, we did not test for differences across Hispanic/Latino heritages due to small sample sizes, although studies among Hispanic/Latino adults have shown differences in acculturation and in SSB by heritage [ 21 , 52 ].…”

Targeting family functioning, acculturative stress, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption for obesity prevention: Findings from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth

“…For instance, children's SSB consumption may be in uenced by acculturative factors through parents' behaviors, practices, and their role shaping the home environment. [48][49][50][51] Also, we did not test for differences across Hispanic/Latino heritages due to small sample sizes, although studies among Hispanic/Latino adults have shown differences in acculturation and in SSB by heritage. 52,53 Generalizability may be limited because some Hispanic/Latino youth may be underrepresented in relation to the geographic location of study recruitment.…”