PO304. SOCIO-CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON LATINO MOTHERS’ CHILD FEEDING PRACTICES AND STYLES AND CHILD WEIGHT STATUS

Overall, few studies have explored and documented maternal child feeding practices and styles among Latino families. The existing literature suggests that these practices and styles are partially influenced by ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship of child-feeding practices and styles and socio-cultural and psychological factors to overweight in low-income Latino preschool-aged children. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with anthropometric measurements with 150 Latino immigrant mothers of preschool-age children (2-5 years) residing in the U.S. to examine the influence of socio-cultural (e.g., social support, food insecurity, acculturation) and psychological (e.g., depressive symptoms) factors on Latino mothers’ child feeding practices and styles and child weight status. Results showed the important role of socio-cultural factors in influencing Latina mothers’ child feeding practices and child weight status. Research aimed at understanding child feeding practices and styles specific to the Latino culture may provide insights into factors underlying the disparities in prevalence of child obesity in this population group.