The association between family social network size and healthy lifestyle factors: Results from the Hispanic community health study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Sonia Marie Thomas; Rosenda Murillo; amber pirzada; Donghong Wu; Linda C Gallo; Sonia Thomas; Natania W Ostrovsky; Frank J Penedo; Krista M Perreira; Samantha A Reina; Linda Van Horn; Jeremiah Stamler; Martha L Daviglus

The association between family social network size and healthy lifestyle factors

Results from the Hispanic community health study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Murillo, R., pirzada, A., Wu, D., Gallo, L. C., Davis, S., Ostrovsky, N. W., Penedo, F. J., Perreira, K. M., Reina, S. A., Van Horn, L., Stamler, J., & Daviglus, M. L. (2019). The association between family social network size and healthy lifestyle factors: Results from the Hispanic community health study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00082-9

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Abstract

We examined associations of central family (i.e., children, parents, in-laws) social network size with healthy lifestyle factors (i.e., favorable body mass index, physical activity, diet, alcohol use, smoking). Using data on 15,511 Hispanics/Latinos 18-74 years old from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, multivariable adjusted survey logistic regression was used to compute associations of social network size with healthy lifestyle factors. A one-unit higher total of central family size was associated with lower odds of healthy body mass index (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.86-0.93) and having all five healthy lifestyle factors (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.85-0.96). Findings suggest familial structural social support may contribute to healthy lifestyle factors and differ based on the type of relationship among Hispanics/Latinos.