Exploring longitudinal and momentary effects of family functioning on obesity risk behaviors in Hispanic adolescents and family units - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Hispanic adolescents in the United States are disproportionately affected by obesity compared to their non- Hispanic White adolescent counterparts. A recommended means of addressing adolescent obesity is through participation in family-based multicomponent behavioral interventions (targeting improvements in family functioning as a mechanism of change). Although family-based interventions (FBIs) exist, effects on adolescent obesity-related outcomes, especially among Hispanic adolescents, are small or insignificant. Limited effects may be due to gaps in the existing research: 1) few FBIs have incorporated obesity-related socioecological factors at multiple levels as tailoring variables to improve intervention effects, 2) FBIs often overlook fathers and other household members (such as grandparents in multi-generational households) that may also play a role on adolescents’ obesity risk behaviors, and 3) FBIs often assess family functioning retrospectively without consideration of day-to-day family dynamics, which may also influence obesity risk behaviors. Thus, I propose the following aims to address existing gaps: 1) conduct secondary data analysis using five waves of data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study and the Hispanic adolescent subsample (n=2411, Mage=9.5 at baseline) to examine the direct and moderating effects of factors at each level of the socioecological model on the longitudinal trajectories of obesity risk behaviors/obesity status, 2) pilot an EMA protocol with Hispanic adolescents (9-to-17 years) and household caregivers (n=20 family units) across 7 days to assess feasibility and acceptability, identify barriers and facilitators to completion of daily assessments by family units, and make needed modifications to the EMA protocol, and 3) implement a finalized EMA protocol over a 6-month period, using measurement burst design, and assess the effects of momentary changes in family functioning behaviors and associations with daily physical activity, sleep, and nutrition behaviors (n=50 family units, adolescents 9-to-17 years). The purpose of this training application is to gain mentoring and training in the following four areas: 1) intensive longitudinal data analysis, 2) recruitment, retention, and implementation, 3) innovative assessment design, and 4) professional development. Under the mentorship of a team of interdisciplinary researchers, experts in either obesity prevention, longitudinal data analysis, ecological momentary assessment, and/or minority health, Dr. Fernandez will successfully complete the plan of research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health and attain preliminary data to inform the development of a NIH-R01 proposal.
