Abstract P034: Family Lifestyles And Home Environments Associated With Youth Cardiovascular Health: The Multidimensional Assessment Of Preschoolers Study

Abstract

Introduction: The importance of healthy family lifestyles and home environments (e.g. environments that support healthy choices for food, physical activity, and sleep) on health behaviors and obesity risks are well-recognized. Less is known about the association of family factors with cardiovascular health (CVH) in youth. We examined the cross-sectional association of family factors (reported by youth and their parents) with youths’ CVH. Methods: Analyses included data from the Multidimensional Assessment of Preschoolers Study. Parents and youth (11.3± 0.7 years old) reported the frequency of ten family factors (e.g. breakfast intake, monitoring of screen time, etc.). The outcome was a 10-point score of youths’ CVH that included 5 CVH metrics (diet, physical activity, smoking, BMI, and blood pressure) summed using the AHA criteria. Pearson correlations were used to compare youth and parents’ reports of family factors and adjusted multivariable linear regression models to examine the association of both reports with youths’ CVH scores. Results: Study included 177 parent-youth dyads, and 22% of youth had ideal, 74% intermediate, and 5% poor CVH. Correlations between parents and youths’ reports of family factors were moderate. Based on parents’ reports, support of healthy beverage choices (i.e. limit sweet and soda beverages and support low fat dairy intake) associated with youths’ CVH scores (β= -0.10, p<0.01). The association of family’ support of youths’ physical activity (i.e. encourage youth's physical activity during leisure time and support enrollment in organized sports/activities) with youths’ CVH scores was nearly significant based on parents’ reports (β= 0.04, p=0.055) and significant based on youths’ reports (β= 0.05, p=0.04). Youths’ CVH scores were not associated with other family factors. Conclusion: Youths’ CVH scores were associated with healthy beverage choices and family support of youths’ physical activity, but not other family factors. These important family factors require further research.