Associations Between Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Among Urban High School Students

Aesoon Park; Tanya L Eckert; Michelle J Zaso; Lori A J Scott-Sheldon; Peter A Vanable; Kate B Carey; Craig K Ewart; Michael P Carey

doi:10.1111/josh.12567

Associations Between Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Among Urban High School Students

Aesoon Park, Tanya L Eckert, Michelle J Zaso, Lori A J Scott-Sheldon, Peter A Vanable, Kate B Carey, Craig K Ewart, Michael P Carey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is crucial to develop health-related knowledge, adopt healthy lifestyles, and benefit from health care services. However, research on the association between health literacy and adolescent health outcomes, particularly on their prospective associations, is rare. We assessed health literacy using 3 validated measures, and examined cross-sectional and prospective associations between health literacy and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes.

METHODS: We conducted a short-term prospective study of 250 adolescents (mean age = 14 years; 57% female; 48% African American) who were entering or in the ninth grade in an urban school district. Health literacy was assessed by individual interviews at baseline, and health-related behaviors and outcomes were assessed by a paper-and-pencil survey at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS: Nearly half of the sample was reading at least 2 grades below expected levels. Lower baseline health literacy was associated with a lower self-rating of general health, unhealthier diet, heavier weight, and greater engagement in problem behaviors and sexual behaviors at baseline. Lower baseline health literacy also was associated with a greater increase in substance use over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Results point to the pressing need to improve health literacy in urban high school students.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	885-893
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of School Health
Volume	87
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12567
State	Published - Dec 2017
Externally published	Yes

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Journal Article

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10.1111/josh.12567

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title = "Associations Between Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Among Urban High School Students",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Health literacy is crucial to develop health-related knowledge, adopt healthy lifestyles, and benefit from health care services. However, research on the association between health literacy and adolescent health outcomes, particularly on their prospective associations, is rare. We assessed health literacy using 3 validated measures, and examined cross-sectional and prospective associations between health literacy and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes.METHODS: We conducted a short-term prospective study of 250 adolescents (mean age = 14 years; 57% female; 48% African American) who were entering or in the ninth grade in an urban school district. Health literacy was assessed by individual interviews at baseline, and health-related behaviors and outcomes were assessed by a paper-and-pencil survey at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up.RESULTS: Nearly half of the sample was reading at least 2 grades below expected levels. Lower baseline health literacy was associated with a lower self-rating of general health, unhealthier diet, heavier weight, and greater engagement in problem behaviors and sexual behaviors at baseline. Lower baseline health literacy also was associated with a greater increase in substance use over time.CONCLUSIONS: Results point to the pressing need to improve health literacy in urban high school students.",

keywords = "Journal Article",

author = "Aesoon Park and Eckert, {Tanya L} and Zaso, {Michelle J} and Scott-Sheldon, {Lori A J} and Vanable, {Peter A} and Carey, {Kate B} and Ewart, {Craig K} and Carey, {Michael P}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2017, American School Health Association.",

year = "2017",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1111/josh.12567",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "885--893",

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number = "12",

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T1 - Associations Between Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Among Urban High School Students

AU - Park, Aesoon

AU - Eckert, Tanya L

AU - Zaso, Michelle J

AU - Scott-Sheldon, Lori A J

AU - Vanable, Peter A

AU - Carey, Kate B

AU - Ewart, Craig K

AU - Carey, Michael P

PY - 2017/12

Y1 - 2017/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: Health literacy is crucial to develop health-related knowledge, adopt healthy lifestyles, and benefit from health care services. However, research on the association between health literacy and adolescent health outcomes, particularly on their prospective associations, is rare. We assessed health literacy using 3 validated measures, and examined cross-sectional and prospective associations between health literacy and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes.METHODS: We conducted a short-term prospective study of 250 adolescents (mean age = 14 years; 57% female; 48% African American) who were entering or in the ninth grade in an urban school district. Health literacy was assessed by individual interviews at baseline, and health-related behaviors and outcomes were assessed by a paper-and-pencil survey at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up.RESULTS: Nearly half of the sample was reading at least 2 grades below expected levels. Lower baseline health literacy was associated with a lower self-rating of general health, unhealthier diet, heavier weight, and greater engagement in problem behaviors and sexual behaviors at baseline. Lower baseline health literacy also was associated with a greater increase in substance use over time.CONCLUSIONS: Results point to the pressing need to improve health literacy in urban high school students.

AB - BACKGROUND: Health literacy is crucial to develop health-related knowledge, adopt healthy lifestyles, and benefit from health care services. However, research on the association between health literacy and adolescent health outcomes, particularly on their prospective associations, is rare. We assessed health literacy using 3 validated measures, and examined cross-sectional and prospective associations between health literacy and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes.METHODS: We conducted a short-term prospective study of 250 adolescents (mean age = 14 years; 57% female; 48% African American) who were entering or in the ninth grade in an urban school district. Health literacy was assessed by individual interviews at baseline, and health-related behaviors and outcomes were assessed by a paper-and-pencil survey at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up.RESULTS: Nearly half of the sample was reading at least 2 grades below expected levels. Lower baseline health literacy was associated with a lower self-rating of general health, unhealthier diet, heavier weight, and greater engagement in problem behaviors and sexual behaviors at baseline. Lower baseline health literacy also was associated with a greater increase in substance use over time.CONCLUSIONS: Results point to the pressing need to improve health literacy in urban high school students.

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DO - 10.1111/josh.12567

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SN - 0022-4391

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SP - 885

EP - 893

JO - Journal of School Health

JF - Journal of School Health

IS - 12

ER -

Associations Between Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Among Urban High School Students

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