The effects of parent–adolescent acculturation gaps on adolescent lifestyle behaviors: Moderating role of family communication.

Abstract

This study examined (a) associations between parent–adolescent acculturation gaps in Americanism and Hispanicism and adolescents’ lifestyle behaviors (fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity) and (b) the moderating roles of adolescent- and parent-reported family communication on these associations. Hispanic adolescents with overweight or obesity (n = 280; 52% female, 13.0 ± 0.8 years old) and their parents (88% female, 44.9 ± 6.5 years old) completed baseline measures on acculturation, family communication, weekly physical activity, and daily fruit and vegetable intake as part of their participation in a family-based health promotion efficacy trial. Acculturation gaps were calculated by taking the product of adolescent and parent scores for each subscale (Americanism and Hispanicism). We conducted multiple linear regression analyses with three-way interaction terms (e.g., Parent Americanism × Adolescent Americanism × family communication) to assess for moderation. Family communication significantly moderated the association between parent–adolescent acculturation gaps in Americanism and adolescent fruit and vegetable intake. For families with low adolescent-reported family communication, parent–adolescent discrepancies in Americanism were associated with lower adolescent fruit and vegetable intake whereas there were no significant associations for families with high family communication. There were no effects on weekly minutes of physical activity. Acculturation gaps in Hispanicism were not significantly associated with either outcome. Findings highlight the importance of parent–adolescent acculturation gaps and family communication on fruit and vegetable intake for Hispanic adolescents. Targeting parent–adolescent acculturation gaps for families with low levels of communication may be important to improve dietary behaviors in Hispanic adolescents, who are already disproportionately affected by obesity.

Understanding family functioning in mothers and daughters with obesity

“…Among Mexican immigrant parents, attempts to adapt to the American way of parenting involves more English speaking, open communication, and use of reasoning and understanding in place of physical discipline (Gonzalez & Méndez-Pounds, 2018 ). This fostering of biculturalism has important health implications as children of immigrant parents consume less fruits and vegetables when they differ in acculturation and have less positive communication with parents (Leite et al, 2023 ).…”

“…It may also interfere with ability of family members to communicate effectively as they cope with the psychological stress involved in lifestyle change efforts to manage weight. Parent-child acculturation difference is linked to lower fruit and vegetable intake in families with poor communication (Leite et al, 2023 ). This could be especially relevant to immigrant families where U.S. born and/or raised children adhere more to American attitudes and behaviours compared to their foreign-born parents (Cano et al, 2016 ).…”

Family functioning, well-being, and mental health among new immigrant families.

“…Parents' and children's feelings and expectations about their relationship cannot be shared if they do not communicate well, and such poor communication may then result in a discrepancy in their perceptions of the family. Hence, it is not surprising that family-based interventions work often through family communication (Leite et al, 2023).…”