Family and sociodemographic disparities in physical activity within African American girls

Authors: MUSAAD, SALMA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); PUYAU, MAURICE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); BACHA, FIDA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); CALLENDER, CHISHINGA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); ISLAM, NOEMI - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); Thompson, Deborah - Debbe

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2021
Publication Date: 6/8/2021
Citation: Musaad, S., Puyau, M., Bacha, F., Callender, C., Islam, N., Baranowski, T., Thompson, D.J. 2021. Family and sociodemographic disparities in physical activity within African American girls [abstract]. International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) Annual Conference (Virtual). June 8-10, 2021. Oral presentation.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Physical activity (PA) disparities focus on moderate-vigorous (MV) PA across racial/ethnic groups. Little is known regarding disparities in 24-hr compositional data within single minority groups, despite the potential to influence health outcomes. Research questions: How do sleep, sedentary and PA behaviors vary in a 24hr-day among African-American (AA) girls? What are the effects of family, socioeconomic, and environmental factors? Butterfly Girls is a randomized trial promoting healthy diet and PA among 8-10 year old AA girls in Houston TX (n=390). Seven days PA data (accelerometry) were used (criteria: >1000 min wear time, >600 min awake per day (d)). Baseline outcomes (sleep, sedentary, light, MVPA min/d) were converted to percent of 24-hrs. Factors at the level of family (number of children/adults in home, times family eats together, child eats at restaurants/fast food), sociodemographics (parental education, income, free/reduced lunch), and environment (transportation to school, TV in child’s bedroom, hrs/d media use, PA parenting practices (PAPP)) were examined using Kruskal-Wallis test or correlations. Multivariate regression (MANOVA) controlling for wear time explored which factor concurrently influences all PA outcomes. Daily wear time was 23.6+/-0.5 hrs. Average days worn was 6.9+/-0.3. On average, 2.1% of 24-hr was spent in MVPA, 28.7% sleep, 29.8% sedentary, and 30.1% light PA. Cronbach's-alpha for PAPPs ranged from 0.52-0.88 for discouraging practices and 0.83-0.88 for encouraging practices. Correlations of PA with media use and PAPPs were low. PA differences (P<0.05) were observed by income (light PA: <$21,000 29.5%, $21-$61,000 30.8%, >$61,000 29.5%; MVPA: 1.8%, 2.1%, 2.3%); free/reduced lunch (MVPA: free 1.9%, reduced 2.3%, full 2.4%), education (light PA: < high school (HS) 25%, HS 31%, college 31%, >college 29%; similar trend for MVPA (P=0.06)). MANOVA indicated that number of days child eats at restaurants/fast food (P<0.05), education (P<0.1) influence all PA outcomes. Disparities were identified by income, education, free/reduced lunch, and restaurant/fast food use. Methods examining PA behaviors concurrently reveal different associations. This research addresses PA and sleep behaviors considering 24-hrs among AA girls who experience greater risk for obesity, and provides support for targeted within-group interventions promoting equity in PA behaviors.