ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: High levels of family conflict increase the risk for early smoking initiation and smoking escalation among adolescents, whereas high levels of warmth and cohesion in the family are protective against smoking initiation. However, little is known about the associations between changes in family function during adolescence on subsequent smoking initiation among Mexican heritage adolescents. METHODS: In 2005-2006, 1,328 Mexican heritage adolescents aged 11-14 years enrolled in a cohort study to examine nongenetic and genetic factors associated with cigarette experimentation. In 2008-2009, 1,154 participants completed a follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression models were computed to prospectively examine associations between smoking behavior assessed in 2008-2009 and changes in family cohesion and family conflict assessed in both 2005-2006 and 2008-2009, controlling for gender, age, and linguistic acculturation, positive outcome expectations associated with smoking, as well as friends and family smoking behavior. RESULTS: Overall 21% had tried cigarettes by 2008-2009. Consistently low levels of family cohesion (odds ratio [OR] = 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-6.73) and decreases in family cohesion (OR = 2.36; 95% CI, 1.37-4.07), as well as consistently high levels of family conflict (OR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.08-2.79) and increases in conflict (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.19-2.94) were independent risk factors for smoking initiation among Mexican heritage youth. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that family cohesion protects against adolescent smoking, whereas family conflict increases the risk for smoking. Therefore, intervention programs for adolescents and parents could focus on enhancing family bonding and closeness, which is protective against smoking initiation.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Family Conflict/psychology , Mexican Americans/psychology , Parent-Child Relations/ethnology , Smoking/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Family Conflict/ethnology , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Mexican Americans/ethnology , Object Attachment , Smoking/ethnologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Existing racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity during childhood increase Hispanics' risk of developing chronic diseases, which serves to increase health disparities. This study examined associations of family cohesion and conflict with self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), controlling for psychosocial covariates such as subjective social status, anxiety, and sensation-seeking. METHODS: 1000 Mexican origin adolescents reported their MVPA levels approximately 2 years apart. Psychosocial covariates, family cohesion and conflict were measured at the first assessment. Generalized Linear Models were used to prospectively examine the relationship between family cohesion and conflict and subsequent MVPA based on 711 participants who had low levels of baseline MVPA. RESULTS: 35% of boys and 24% of girls reported adequate MVPA levels at follow-up; girls were less likely to report adequate MVPA (RR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61-0.93) than boys. Overall, family cohesion was associated with MVPA (P = .01), but family cohesion was not (P = .41). Gender-based analyses revealed that adequate MVPA was associated with family cohesion (RR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.03-1.88), sensation seeking (RR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00-1.10), and age (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.98) among girls and with subjective social status (RR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.08-1.33) among boys. CONCLUSIONS: The family social environment and gender differences should be addressed in health promotion programs targeting MVPA.
