IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i19p10117-d643743.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Designing for Multilevel Behavior Change: A Father-Focused Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Mexican-Heritage Families in South Texas Border Communities

Author

Listed:
  • Cassandra M. Johnson

    (Nutrition and Foods Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA)

  • Joseph R. Sharkey

    (Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • M. Renée Umstattd Meyer

    (Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA)

  • Luis Gómez

    (Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Marlyn A. Allicock

    (The University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Houston School of Public Health-Dallas Regional Campus, Dallas, TX 75207, USA)

  • Tyler Prochnow

    (Department of Health and Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Elva Beltrán

    (Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Luz Martinez

    (Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

Abstract

Fathers significantly influence family functioning, as coparents and partners, and must be part of family-based approaches to behavioral health interventions or programs. But little is known regarding how to support Latino fathers in health promotion within their family systems, specifically for Latino families living in border communities. Program development was embedded in a larger community-based grant and part of a longstanding academic-community collaboration. An interdisciplinary research team applied theories related to health behavior, family systems, behavior change, and community engagement to develop a father-focused and family-centered behavioral program for Mexican-heritage fathers and children living near the Texas-Mexico border to support changes in nutrition and physical activity at the individual and family levels. Promotoras de salud (trained community health workers) delivered the program through group sessions, check-in calls, and at-home activities. Group session activities were designed to engage family triads and dyads using experiential education related to nutrition and physical activity, like cooking lessons and active play, over a six-week period. Future research can use the program approach and curricula as a roadmap for designing context-specific and culturally-relevant programs for Latino families. Additional research is needed to explore how approaches like this can support families and their health goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Cassandra M. Johnson & Joseph R. Sharkey & M. Renée Umstattd Meyer & Luis Gómez & Marlyn A. Allicock & Tyler Prochnow & Elva Beltrán & Luz Martinez, 2021. "Designing for Multilevel Behavior Change: A Father-Focused Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Mexican-Heritage Families in South Texas Border Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10117-:d:643743
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/10117/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/10117/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tyler Prochnow & M. Renée Umstattd Meyer & Megan S. Patterson & Megan E. McClendon & Luis Gómez & Stewart G. Trost & Joseph Sharkey, 2020. "Papás Activos : Associations between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Personal Networks among Fathers Living in Texas Colonias," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Davison, K.K. & Gicevic, S. & Aftosmes-Tobio, A. & Ganter, C. & Simon, C.L. & Newlan, S. & Manganello, J.A., 2016. "Fathers' representation in observational studies on parenting and childhood obesity: A systematic review and content analysis," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(11), pages 14-21.
    3. Davison, K.K. & Gicevic, S. & Aftosmes-Tobio, A. & Ganter, C. & Simon, C.L. & Newlan, S. & Manganello, J.A., 2016. "Fathers' Representation in Observational Studies on Parenting and Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review and Content Analysis," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(11), pages 1980-1980.
    4. Stahlschmidt, Mary Jo & Threlfall, Jennifer & Seay, Kristen D. & Lewis, Ericka M. & Kohl, Patricia L., 2013. "Recruiting fathers to parenting programs: Advice from dads and fatherhood program providers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1734-1741.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cassandra M. Johnson & Marlyn A. Allicock & Joseph R. Sharkey & M. Renée Umstattd Meyer & Luis Gómez & Tyler Prochnow & Chelsey Laviolette & Elva Beltrán & Luz M. Garza, 2022. "Promotoras de Salud in a Father-Focused Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Border Communities: Approaches and Lessons Learned from Collaboration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-22, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cassandra M. Johnson & Marlyn A. Allicock & Joseph R. Sharkey & M. Renée Umstattd Meyer & Luis Gómez & Tyler Prochnow & Chelsey Laviolette & Elva Beltrán & Luz M. Garza, 2022. "Promotoras de Salud in a Father-Focused Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Border Communities: Approaches and Lessons Learned from Collaboration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Christina Y.N. Niermann & Sanne M.P.L. Gerards & Stef P.J. Kremers, 2018. "Conceptualizing Family Influences on Children’s Energy Balance-Related Behaviors: Levels of Interacting Family Environmental Subsystems (The LIFES Framework)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez & Francisco Javier Huertas-Delgado & Yaira Barranco-Ruiz & María Jesús Aranda-Balboa & Palma Chillón, 2020. "Are the Parents’ and Their Children’s Physical Activity and Mode of Commuting Associated? Analysis by Gender and Age Group," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Gago, Cristina M. & Jurkowski, Janine & Beckerman-Hsu, Jacob P. & Aftosmes-Tobio, Alyssa & Figueroa, Roger & Oddleifson, Carly & Mattei, Josiemer & Kenney, Erica L. & Haneuse, Sebastien & Davison, Kir, 2022. "Exploring a theory of change: Are increases in parental empowerment associated with healthier weight-related parenting practices?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    5. Lynne A. Daniels & Kimberley M. Mallan & Elena Jansen & Jan M. Nicholson & Anthea M. Magarey & Karen Thorpe, 2020. "Comparison of Early Feeding Practices in Mother–Father Dyads and Possible Generalization of an Efficacious Maternal Intervention to Fathers’ Feeding Practices: A Secondary Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, August.
    6. Jennifer M. Grossman & Amanda M. Richer & Belinda F. Hernandez & Christine M. Markham, 2022. "Moving from Needs Assessment to Intervention: Fathers’ Perspectives on Their Needs and Support for Talk with Teens about Sex," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    7. Aysegul Baltaci & Silvia Alvarez de Davila & Alejandro Omar Reyes Peralta & Melissa N. Laska & Nicole Larson & Ghaffar Ali Hurtado & Marla Reicks, 2021. "Adolescent-Reported Latino Fathers’ Food Parenting Practices and Family Meal Frequency Are Associated with Better Adolescent Dietary Intake," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, August.
    8. Darcy A. Thompson & Andrea M. Jimenez-Zambrano & Haley Ringwood & Jeanne M. Tschann & Lauren Clark, 2023. "Parenting a Toddler in the Era of Pervasive Screens: Interviews with Low-Income Mexican American Parents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-16, April.
    9. O'Gara, Jaimie L. & Zhang, Anao & Padilla, Yolanda & Liu, Chun & Wang, Kaipeng, 2019. "Father-youth closeness and adolescent self-rated health: The mediating role of mental health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Maura M. Kepper & Amanda E. Staiano & Peter T. Katzmarzyk & Rodrigo S. Reis & Amy A. Eyler & Derek M. Griffith & Michelle L. Kendall & Basant ElBanna & Kara D. Denstel & Stephanie T. Broyles, 2019. "Neighborhood Influences on Women’s Parenting Practices for Adolescents’ Outdoor Play: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-16, October.
    11. Russell, Beth S. & Lincoln, Courtney R., 2017. "Reducing hostile parenting through computer-mediated parenting education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 66-73.
    12. Lee, Shawna J. & Hoffman, Gregory & Harris, Donna, 2016. "Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) needs assessment of parenting support programs for fathers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 76-84.
    13. Quetsch, Lauren Borduin & Girard, Emma I. & McNeil, Cheryl B., 2020. "The impact of incentives on treatment adherence and attrition: A randomized controlled trial of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with a primarily Latinx, low-income population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    14. Laxman, Daniel J. & Higginbotham, Brian J. & Bradford, Kay, 2019. "Predictors of attrition and attendance in a fatherhood education program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 287-297.
    15. Russell, Beth S. & Maksut, Jessica L. & Lincoln, Courtney R. & Leland, Alicia J., 2016. "Computer-mediated parenting education: Digital family service provision," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1-8.
    16. Gonzalez, Juan Carlos & Flores, Iliana & Tremblay, Madeleine & Barnett, Miya L., 2022. "Lay health workers engaging Latino fathers: A qualitative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    17. Rostad, Whitney L. & Self-Brown, Shannon & Boyd, Clinton & Osborne, Melissa & Patterson, Alexandria, 2017. "Exploration of factors predictive of at-risk fathers' participation in a pilot study of an augmented evidence-based parent training program: A mixed methods approach," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 485-494.
    18. Julia Alamillo & Heather Zaveri, "undated". "Participation in Responsible Fatherhood Programs in the PACT Evaluation: Associations with Father and Program Characteristics," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 186955f0f79f4bf2b51f3bd44, Mathematica Policy Research.
    19. Godfrey E. Siu & Daniel Wight & Janet Seeley & Carolyn Namutebi & Richard Sekiwunga & Flavia Zalwango & Sarah Kasule, 2017. "Men’s Involvement in a Parenting Programme to Reduce Child Maltreatment and Gender-Based Violence: Formative Evaluation in Uganda," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 29(5), pages 1017-1037, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10117-:d:643743. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.