Abstract P076: Correlations In Hispanic/Latino Siblings’ Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior: Results From The Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study Of Latino Youth (SOL Youth)

Background: Hispanic/Latino youth in the United States are at an elevated risk for not meeting national guidelines for physical activity (PA). Siblings have the potential to influence each other’s PA and sedentary behavior (SB) through means such as role modeling and co-participation. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined correlations in Hispanic/Latino siblings’ PA and SB behavior using objective measures. Objective: To examine correlations in siblings’ total PA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and SB, and to explore whether social and environmental measures explain differences in siblings’ PA and SB. Methods: Hispanic/Latino 8-16-year-olds from the cross-sectional Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) with at least one sibling enrolled in the study were examined ( n =537). Frequency, duration, and intensity of PA were assessed using the ActiCal TM accelerometer. PA-related social and environmental measures were assessed using validated, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Mixed effects linear regression models were used with total PA, MVPA, or SB as the outcome, individual and family-level socio-demographic variables as fixed effects, and family as a random effect. Correlations between siblings’ PA and SB were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). All models were examined stratified by siblings’ sex concordance and age difference. PA-related social and environmental measures were subsequently added as fixed effects. Results: Mean total PA was 257.4 counts/minutes. On average, youth spent 35.9 minutes in MVPA and 599.4 minutes (10.0 hours) in SB per day. Overall correlations in siblings’ PA and SB were slight to fair, with ICCs of 0.28 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.38), 0.31 (95% CI: 0.22, 0.39), and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.54) for total PA, MVPA, and SB, respectively. Siblings who were all brothers had the strongest correlations in total PA (0.61 [95% CI: 0.47, 0.74]) and MVPA (0.62 [95% CI: 0.48, 0.75]) compared to siblings who were all sisters (total PA only) or of differing sexes (total PA and MVPA). Correlations in SB did not differ according to siblings’ sex concordance. Correlations in PA and SB did not differ by siblings’ age difference. Friend support for PA, the after-school PA environment, and workout equipment use at home did not explain differences in siblings’ PA or SB. Conclusions: Correlations in Hispanic/Latino siblings’ PA and SB were slight to fair, with siblings who were all brothers having the strongest correlations in PA. Future research should examine how role-modeling, caregiving responsibilities, and sibling-specific familial support contribute to similarities in siblings’ PA and SB and sex-specific differences in PA correlations.