This study examined the effects of food insecurity and housing instability experiences during early childhood on adolescent anxiety and depressive symptoms through maternal depression and parenting stress. This longitudinal study included 4 waves of data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study (n ϭ 2,626). Food insecurity was measured when the child was 5 years of age using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 18-item Food Security Scale. Housing instability was also measured when the child was 5 years of age based on an affirmative response to 6 housing adversity items. Maternal depression and parenting stress were measured when the child was 9 years of age. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed when the child (now adolescent) was 15 years of age using 6 items of the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 anxiety subscale and 5 items of the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, respectively. Two structural equation models assessed the associations between food insecurity and housing instability on adolescent anxiety (Model 1) and depressive symptoms (Model 2) through maternal depression and parenting stress simultaneously, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results suggest that experiencing both food insecurity and housing instability during early childhood increases the risk of long-term adolescent depressive (indirect: B ϭ 0.008, 95% CI [0.002, 0.016]) and anxiety (indirect: B ϭ 0.012, 95% CI [0.002, 0.026]) symptoms through maternal depression to parenting stress. Screening for food insecurity and housing instability during early childhood could potentially identify both mothers who are at risk for depression and parenting stress and children who are at increased risk for anxiety or depressive symptoms during adolescence.

Background Parent’s and child’s body mass index (BMI) are strongly associated, but their relationship varies by child’s sex and age. Parental BMI reflects, among other factors, parents’ behaviors and home environment, which influence their child’s behaviors and weight. This study examined the indirect effect of parent’s BMI on child’s BMI via child health behaviors, conditional on child’s sex and age. Methods Data from 2039 children and 1737 parents from eight cities of the U.S. involved in the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project tested the association between parental BMI and child’s percentage of 95th BMI percentile (%BMIp95). A generalized structural equation modeling approach to path analysis was used to estimate and test simultaneously the associations among parental BMI and child’s health behaviors and BMI across three age groups (preschool 2-4 yr., elementary 5-10 yr., and middle school 11-12 yr). Child’s health behaviors were examined as mediators. Results Parental BMI was related to %BMIp95 across all age groups, and was strongest in 11-12 yr. children. Parental BMI was positively associated with boys’ fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and girls’ sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake. Compared to 2-4 yr., older children had less FVs and physical activity, more screen time and SSB, and higher %BMIp95. Mediation effects were not significant. Conclusions Parental BMI was associated with child’s %BMIp95 and some child behaviors, and this association was stronger in older children; older children also exhibited less healthy behaviors. Age- and sex-specific interventions that focus on age-related decreases in healthy behaviors and parental strategies for promoting healthy behaviors among at-risk children are needed to address this epidemic of childhood obesity.

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Objective: To determine the temporal directionality of the association between food insecurity and maternal depression. Design: Food insecurity was measured at two time points using the 18-item USDA Food Security Scale. Maternal depression was measured at two time points using the 15-item Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form. Two structural equation models were utilized to evaluate the impact of food insecurity on maternal depression (model 1) and the impact of maternal depression on food insecurity (model 2). Both models controlled for socio-demographic and parenting characteristics and child behavior problems, along with prior measures of the dependent variable, concurrent measures of the independent variable. Setting: Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) study, 20 cities across the United States Participants: 4,897 mothers who participated in two waves of the FFCW study. Results: On average, 17% (time 1) and 15% (time 2) of mothers experienced food insecurity and 21% (time 1) and 17% (time 2) of mothers experienced depression over time. Maternal depression at time 1 was associated with 53% increased odds (OR=1.53; B=0.43; p <.001) of food insecurity at time 2, controlling for time 1 food insecurity, concurrent depression, and covariates. Food insecurity at time 1 was associated with 36% increased odds (OR=1.36; B=0.31; p <.001) of maternal depression at time 2, controlling for time 1 depression, concurrent food insecurity, and covariates. Conclusions: We found a bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and maternal depression. A holistic approach that combines food assistance and mental health services may be an efficacious approach to reducing both depressive symptoms food insecurity among low-income mothers.

The objective of this study was to investigate changes in physical activity patterns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with overweight and obesity who were participating in a school district worksite weight loss program. We conducted comparative design interrupted time series analyses on physical activity device (Fitbit) data from the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 school years (N = 211). We administered a questionnaire in 2020 to supplement device data. After the stay-at-home orders in 2020, participants tended to decrease their weekly step count (B = −1315.7, SE = 627.7, p = .045), decrease their weekly “Lightly active minutes” (B = −39.1, SE = 12.6, p = .007), and increase their weekly “Very active minutes” compared to their counterparts from the year before (B = 7.6, SE = 3.2, p = .020). Decreased motivation, gym closures, and safety concerns were cited as barriers to physical activity. Having more time and health consciousness were cited as facilitators of physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic was related to changes in physical activity in both positive and negative ways, revealing opportunities to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in this population. More research is needed to determine optimal approaches to health promotion in the post-COVID-19 era.