Poster #33 - Neighborhood-level Opportunities and Health Outcomes in Middle Childhood: Do Parenting and Familism Values Buffer Effects?

• In Event: Poster Session 20

Abstract

Compared to previous cohorts of children, recent research suggests increases in inadequate sleep and decreases in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of children of all age groups (Matricciani et al., 2011; Ding et al., 2011). Inadequate sleep and low physical activity in childhood have been linked to obesity, mental health problems, and poor academic performance (Singh & Kenney, 2013; Davison & Lawson, 2006). An important but understudied context that may impact children’s health is neighborhood context (Hunter & Hayden, 2018). Previous literature suggests that positive parenting and familism values may play protective roles in high-risk neighborhood contexts (Romero et al., 2020). This study utilized a strengths-based approach to examine relations between neighborhood opportunities and sleep and physical activity in children, and whether positive parenting and familism values buffered these associations.
This racially and socioeconomically diverse sample consisted of 710 twin children (Mage=8.44 years, SD=.69; 51.4% female; 58.5% non-Hispanic White, 23.7% Hispanic). Children wore actigraphy watches (Motion Logger Micro Watch; Ambulatory Monitoring) on their non-dominant wrist for 7 consecutive nights (M=6.79, SD=.71) to capture sleep (duration, efficiency, midpoint, midpoint variability) and physical activity (MVPA and sedentary behaviors). Primary caregivers reported on their children’s sleep problems using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (Owens et al., 2000). Neighborhood opportunity was evaluated comprehensively (education, health/environment, social/economic determinants) using the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 (COI; Noelke et al., 2020). Observed positive parenting behaviors in the context of a parent-child interaction discussion task of conflicts and good times were coded over the duration of approximately 7.5 minutes per topic (Eyberg & Robinson, 1981). Primary caregivers’ familism values (support, obligations, referents) were assessed using the Mexican American Culture Values Scale (Knight et al., 2010 ; α’s>0.77). Covariates included child sex, age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, BMI, and participation during a school break.
Multilevel regressions demonstrated that higher COI predicted earlier sleep midpoint (Est.=-.10, p=.012), less midpoint variability (Est.=-.05, p<.001), and greater MVPA (Est.=.65, p=.034). Interactions between COI and positive parenting were nonsignificant. The interaction between COI and familism support significantly predicted midpoint variability (Est.=-.04, p=.04), such that associations between COI and midpoint variability were significant at average (Est.=-.052, p<.001) and high (+1 SD above mean, Est.=-.076, p<.001), but not at low (-1 SD below mean, Est.=-.03, p=.095) levels of familism support. Interactions between COI and familism obligations and referents were nonsignificant.
Greater neighborhood opportunities predicted healthier sleep and physical activity in middle childhood. Familism, but not positive parenting, was a significant moderator of the relation between neighborhood opportunities and sleep timing variability. Children with parents who were average or high in familism support, but not low on familism support, had the sleep benefits from living in high opportunity neighborhoods. Further, it is possible that children from low COI neighborhoods, who also have parents with high familism values, may face competing demands such that their family might take precedence over regular sleep routines. Future research should examine how familism and other related variables interact with neighborhood contexts in the prediction of sleep longitudinally and across different developmental stages.

Authors

• Valeria Coral Gutierrez, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Leah D Doane, Arizona State University

• Emma Lecarie, Arizona State University

• HyeJung Park, Arizona State University

• Eva M. Bartsch

• Mary Davis, Arizona State University

• Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, Arizona State University