The association between maternal acculturation, acculturative stress and factors related to child feeding in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Family Lifestyle Outcomes Research (HCHS/SOL FLOR) Study.

The acculturation process and its related stress have been associated with health declines among Hispanic/Latino immigrants in the US. However, the impact on caregiver feeding style and the home food environment are unknown. This study aimed to assess the associations between maternal acculturation and acculturation stress with both caregiver feeding style (n=248) and the home food environment (n=178) using data from mother-child dyads from the Family Lifestyle Outcomes Research ancillary study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Children were aged 3-9 years at the time of the study. Results suggest an association between greater maternal acculturative stress and greater odds of authoritative and authoritarian feeding styles. An association between greater acculturative stress and greater maternal demandingness in feeding was also observed. Additionally, greater language acculturation and greater length of time in the US were associated with more sweetened beverages and fewer fruits and vegetables reported in the home. These results highlight the importance of supporting Hispanic immigrants as they adapt to life in the US and developing culturally appropriate interventions that can address child feeding and food purchasing behaviors among immigrant parents.