A1 Journal article (refereed)
Measuring Health Literacy in Childhood and Adolescence with the Scale Health Literacy in School-Aged Children – German Version : The Psychometric Properties of the German-Language Version of the WHO Health Survey Scale HLSAC (2022)
Messung der Gesundheitskompetenz im Kindes- und Jugendalter mit der Skala „Health Literacy in School-Aged Children-German“ (HLSAC-German) : Psychometrische Eigenschaften der deutschsprachigen Version einer Skala aus der WHO Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitsstudie HBSC


Fischer, Saskia M., Dadaczynski, Kevin, Sudeck, Gorden, Rathmann, Katharina, Paakkari, Olli, Paakkari, Leena, Bilz, Ludwig, the HBSC Study Group Germany. (2022). Measuring Health Literacy in Childhood and Adolescence with the Scale Health Literacy in School-Aged Children – German Version : The Psychometric Properties of the German-Language Version of the WHO Health Survey Scale HLSAC. Diagnostica, 68(4), 184-196. https://doi.org/10.1026/0012-1924/a000296


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsFischer, Saskia M.; Dadaczynski, Kevin; Sudeck, Gorden; Rathmann, Katharina; Paakkari, Olli; Paakkari, Leena; Bilz, Ludwig; the HBSC Study Group Germany

Journal or seriesDiagnostica

ISSN0012-1924

eISSN2190-622X

Publication year2022

Publication date12/09/2022

Volume68

Issue number4

Pages range184-196

PublisherHogrefe Publishing Group

Publication countryGermany

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1026/0012-1924/a000296

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83276


Abstract

Health literacy can help explain health inequalities in childhood and adolescence. However, suitable instruments for assessing health literacy in this age group are rare, especially in the German-speaking countries. One economical measure is the 10-item Health Literacy in School-Aged Children (HLSAC) scale, developed and reviewed as part of the WHO Child and Adolescent Health Study (HBSC, Health Behavior in School-Aged Children). In the present study, we tested dimensionality, measurement invariance, and associations with health-related measures of the German version of the scale (HLSAC–German), using data from the 2018 national German HBSC study (N = 4,347 students aged 11, 13, and 15 years). We also tested HLSAC–German with 11-year-olds, representing an expansion of the original scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses consistently demonstrated the unidimensionality of the scale (α = .88). Complete scalar measurement invariance was found for sex and partial scalar measurement invariance for age groups and school type, allowing for the comparison of means. Associations with indicators of health and health behavior further demonstrate the construct validity of the scale. The analyses show that the scale is suitable for the economic measurement of a general factor of health literacy in 11- as well as in 13- and 15-year-olds.


Keywordschildren (age groups)young peoplehealth literacyhealth behaviourwell-beingmeasuring instruments (indicators)health research

Free keywordshealth literacy; childhood; adolescence; measurement invariance; validity


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2022

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-26-03 at 09:21