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Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Their Preschool-Age Children’s Sleep and Bedtime Routines: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States

Author

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  • Ana Cristina Lindsay

    (Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125, USA
    Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Carlos André Moura Arruda

    (Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará 62010-560, Brazil)

  • Márcia M. Tavares Machado

    (Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará 62010-560, Brazil)

  • Gabriela P. De Andrade

    (Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125, USA)

  • Mary L. Greaney

    (Health Studies & Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA)

Abstract

In the United States (US), racial/ethnic minority children, low-income children, and children of immigrant families are at increased risk of childhood obesity. Mounting evidence documents that sleep duration and sleep quality are important modifiable factors associated with increased risk of obesity among preschool-aged children. The number of Brazilian immigrants in the US is increasing, yet no existing research, to our knowledge, has examined factors affecting sleep and bedtime routines of children of Brazilian immigrant families. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Brazilian immigrant mothers’ beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to sleep and bedtime routines among preschool-aged children. Seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 37 Brazilian immigrant mothers of preschool-age children living in the US. The audio-recordings of the FGDs were transcribed verbatim in Portuguese without identifiers and analyzed using thematic analyses. Mothers also completed a brief questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and acculturation. Analyses revealed that most mothers were aware of the importance of sleep and sleep duration for their children’s healthy growth and development. Mothers also spoke of children needing consistent bedtime routines. Nevertheless, many mothers reported inconsistent and suboptimal bedtime routines (e.g., lack of predictable and orderly bedtime activities such as bath, reading, etc. and use of electronics in bed). These suboptimal routines appeared to be influenced by day-to-day social contextual and environmental factors that are part of Brazilian immigrant families’ lives such as parents’ work schedule, living with extended family, living in multi-family housing, neighborhood noise, etc. Analyses identified several modifiable parenting practices related to young children’s sleep and bedtime routines (e.g., irregular bedtime, late bedtime, inconsistent bedtime routines, use of electronics in bed, etc.) that can be addressed in parenting- and family-based obesity prevention interventions. Interventions should consider the social context of the home/family (e.g., parents’ work schedules) and the environment (e.g., multi-family housing; neighborhood noise, etc.) faced by Brazilian immigrant families when developing health promotion messages and parenting interventions tailored to this ethnic group.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Cristina Lindsay & Carlos André Moura Arruda & Márcia M. Tavares Machado & Gabriela P. De Andrade & Mary L. Greaney, 2018. "Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Their Preschool-Age Children’s Sleep and Bedtime Routines: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1923-:d:167647
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ana Cristina Lindsay & Sherrie F. Wallington & Faith D. Lees & Mary L. Greaney, 2018. "Exploring How the Home Environment Influences Eating and Physical Activity Habits of Low-Income, Latino Children of Predominantly Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Mojtaba Vaismoradi & Hannele Turunen & Terese Bondas, 2013. "Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 398-405, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thaís Vilasboas & Qun Le & Mary L. Greaney & Ana Cristina Lindsay, 2023. "Brazilian Immigrant Parents’ Preferences for Content and Intervention Modalities for the Design of a Family-Based Intervention to Promote Their Preschool-Age Children’s Healthful Energy Balance-Relate," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-12, March.

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