Family-Level Factors That Influence Physical Activity among Hispanic Adolescents at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Family-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies are recommended as best practice; however, there is limited knowledge regarding the family-level factors that influence modifiable behavior risk factors like physical activity (PA) among Latinx adolescents. This study addressed this knowledge gap by using qualitative methods to identify perceptions of family-level factors that influence PA among Hispanic youth.

We conducted semistructured, open-ended interviews with 20 Latinx adolescents (14-16 years) with obesity (body mass index ≥95th percentile) to identify their perceptions of how family influences PA. Content analysis was used to identify emergent themes, which were then compared across demographic factors, other identified themes, and participant-identified personal values.

Fourteen adolescents (70%) perceived family factors that facilitated PA. They described family support received as doing PA together, modeling PA, and providing motivational or financial support. Ten adolescents (50%) viewed family as a barrier, more often citing active barriers such as family responsibilities. Across demographics, youth with divorced parents and parents who reported more working hours (≥40 hours per week) perceived their family as less supportive of PA. Additionally, perceptions of family support shaped self-identified health values (eg, being healthy and fit).

Family-based obesity prevention strategies should leverage factors that facilitate PA and should be designed to consider factors that serve as barriers to PA among this age group and population. Given that there is little guidance on the development and implementation of family-based obesity-prevention strategies, findings from this study will inform the development of future family-based prevention opportunities among high-risk youth and families.