O1 Abstract
Health literacy among adolescents : summary of some key findings from ten European countries (2022)
Paakkari, L., Lahti, H., Kulmala, M., Paakkari, O., & Lyyra, N. (2022). Health literacy among adolescents : summary of some key findings from ten European countries. European Journal of Public Health, 32(Supplement 3), iii131. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.321
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Paakkari, L.; Lahti, H.; Kulmala, M.; Paakkari, O.; Lyyra, N.
Place and date of conference: Berlin, Germany, 9.-12.11.2022
Journal or series: European Journal of Public Health
ISSN: 1101-1262
eISSN: 1464-360X
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 01/10/2022
Volume: 32
Issue number: Supplement 3
Pages range: iii131
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.321
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83776
Abstract
In research on disparities, the concept of health literacy (HL) as a set of competencies to promote and sustain health may help in understanding the disparities better and in addressing avoidable and unfair health disparities. The presentation will present some key findings on adolescents’ HL levels in ten European countries, and how HL mediates and moderates between various background factors and health outcomes.
Methods
Data consisted of cross-sectional data from Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from year 2017/18 of ten European countries (Austria, Belgium (Fl), Czechia, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Macedonia, Poland, and Slovakia). Data (n = 14,590 - 22,291) of 13- and 15-year-old pupils were used. Indicators include background variables (e.g. age, gender), Health literacy, Health indicators (e.g. self-rated health (SRH) and problematic social media use (PSMU)). Analysis include (1) Mediator analysis (with Mplus): pearson correlation coefficients, path models (Mplus 7.3 and Maximum Likelihood estimator) and (2) random effects models and moderator analyses (with R-sofware).
Findings
HL is an independent factor explaining disparities in health (e.g. SRH), and a mediator as well as a moderator between health outcomes and background factors. Based on the national analyses HL had significant main effects in every country, but group level differences emerged only in some countries. For instance, in Finland and Belgium, among girls HL lowered the likelihood to problematic social media use, but not among boys.
Discussion
HL is of use in understanding and tackling health disparities among adolescents. Results confirm the need to adopt the principles of proportionate universalism when promoting HL among adolescents to avoid widening the disparities within population groups. Also, country-specific health literacy interventions are needed to secure equity in opportunities of different population groups to benefit from the HL interventions.
Keywords: physical activity; physical training; health; health behaviour
Free keywords: health promotion; health literacy
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Won't be reported
