The Association Between Father Support and Daughter Physical Activity: Insights From a Study Involving U.S. Latina Pre-Teens.

PurposeSocial support, particularly from family, is crucial for physical activity (PA) among youth. This study examined the association between father support and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in Latina pre-teens and explored the moderating role of body mass index (BMI).DesignCross-sectional analysis.SettingBaseline data from a pilot randomized controlled trial in San Diego County. SubjectsSixty Latina pre-teen girls aged 8-11 years.MeasuresGirls' MVPA was measured via accelerometry. An exploratory factor analysis created a composite measure of father support, reported by mothers.AnalysisHierarchical linear regression models, adjusting for covariates, assessed the relationship between father support and MVPA. Interaction models tested the moderating effect of BMI z-score (zBMI).ResultsFather support was significantly associated with MVPA (b-range = 0.07 to 0.08, 95%CI = 0.02, 0.13) after adjusting for age, income, acculturation, and maternal support. However, this association became non-significant with the inclusion of zBMI (b = 0.06, 95%CI: -0.01, 0.11). The interaction model showed a significant positive association between father support and MVPA among girls with a healthy weight (b = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.27, 2.68) but not among those with overweight/obesity (b = 0.95, 95%CI: -0.38, 2.28).ConclusionOur findings indicate a potential association between father support and daughters' MVPA among girls with a healthy weight. Further research is needed to understand why this association is not observed in girls with overweight/obesity.