Role of diet and physical activity on sleep and sleep parenting for Latine 2-to-5-year-olds

Latine children face structural and contextual challenges affecting sleep health, and unique factors surrounding diet and physical activity. Formative research to understand the contexts surrounding these behaviors is needed to inform potential intervention targets and strategies.

We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews in 2019 with 18 custodial parents of Latine children aged 2-5. Interviews explored sleep parenting: daily routines, dietary preferences, sleep schedules, and physical activity habits. A bottom-up (de novo) coding process was used where two independent coders identified themes through line-by-line coding and inductive thematic analysis.

Several factors related to sleep parenting influence a child's diet and physical activity. Parents shared that their child's diet and physical activity affected sleep latency, duration, and quality at night; and that sleep, in turn, also affected diet preferences and engagement with physical activity the following day. Parents identified that this cycle was altered by several factors within the household and outside of the household. Specifically, eating high-sugar foods and external disruptions that reduced physical activity (i.e., disruptions in school or caregiving routines) negatively impacted sleep, while eating heavy, homemade foods and high engagement with play and organized sports during the day positively impacted sleep. Some parents described taking proactive steps to enhance their child's sleep quality, while other parents perceived no relationship between sleep, diet, and physical activity.

Parental approaches to managing children's health behavior varied, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive interventions to address the role of diet and physical activity on sleep among Latine children.