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Lifestyle behaviours of immigrant and Australian children: Evidence from a nationally representative sample.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), sleep, and fruit and vegetable intake of children with low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) parents, high-income countries (HIC), and Australian children, and whether these behaviours are associated with their immigrant status. Data for this study were from wave 7 of the Birth cohort (B cohort) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to examine associations between health behaviours and immigrant status. The models were adjusted for a number of covariates. Children with LMIC parents had lower odds of meeting PA and sleep recommendations and higher odds ratio (OR) of meeting fruit and vegetable intake, and ST recommendations than Australian or HIC children. Children with LMIC parents had one-third the odds of meeting the PA recommendations (OR 0.39 [95%CI 0.22-0.70]) than Australian children. No significant differences were observed in lifestyle behaviours among children with HIC parents and Australian children. Lifestyle behaviours of children with LMIC parents differed from those of HIC and Australian children. However, children with HIC parents and Australian children had comparable lifestyle behaviours. Identified disparities in lifestyle behaviours among immigrant children can inform strategies to bring equity in Australian children's lifestyles. Our study underscores the importance of culturally appropriate targeted interventions to promote PA and sleep of children with LMIC parents.

SUBMITTER: Ahmed S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9219330 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Previous research shows that environmental and social factors contribute to the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). OBJECTIVE:To determine the relationship between early-life exposure to common ambient air pollutants (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, also known as BTEX), household material hardship (a measure of socio-economic status), and ADHD-suggestive behaviours in kindergarten-age children. METHODS:Pollutant exposure estimated from the 2002 National Air Toxics Assessment at each child's residential ZIP code at enrolment was linked to the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort (n = 4650). Material hardship was assigned as a composite score of access to food, health care, and housing. Kindergarten teachers rated children's behaviours and activity in the classroom using a five-point Likert scale. Children with summary scores in the bottom decile were classified as displaying ADHD-suggestive behaviours. Logistic regression models were constructed to estimate the association between both BTEX exposure and material hardship on ADHD-suggestive behaviours. RESULTS:The odds of displaying ADHD-suggestive behaviours were greater in children with combined high-level exposure to BTEX and in those experiencing material hardship (odds ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12, 2.11, and OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.25, 3.59, respectively), adjusting for covariates. These associations were stronger when restricting the study population to urban areas. There was no evidence of interaction between early life BTEX exposure and material hardship, although the effects of BTEX exposure were slightly greater in magnitude among those with higher material hardship scores. CONCLUSIONS:Children exposed to air toxics, material hardship, or both early in life are more likely to display signs of ADHD-suggestive behaviours as assessed by their kindergarten teachers. The associations between exposures to air pollution and to socio-economic hardship were observed in all children but were particularly strong in those living in urban areas.

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Lifestyle behaviours of immigrant and Australian children: Evidence from a nationally representative sample.

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