A1 Journal article (refereed)
Does health literacy explain regional health disparities among adolescents in Finland? (2021)

Simonsen, N., Wackström, N., Roos, E., Suominen, S., Välimaa, R., Tynjälä, J., & Paakkari, L. (2021). Does health literacy explain regional health disparities among adolescents in Finland?. Health Promotion International, 36(6), 1727-1738. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaa122

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Simonsen, Nina; Wackström, Nanna; Roos, Eva; Suominen, Sakari; Välimaa, Raili; Tynjälä, Jorma; Paakkari, Leena

Journal or series: Health Promotion International

ISSN: 0957-4824

eISSN: 1460-2245

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 36

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 1727-1738

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaa122

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80042

Abstract

Health literacy (HL)—as a broad range of health-related competencies—has been proposed to be a promising construct in understanding health disparities better, also among adolescents. Several factors have been found to explain differences in adolescents’ HL levels; however, not much is known about how different regions of a country or majority/minority status is associated with HL, or whether HL is associated with regional health disparities. The aim of this study was to examine and compare HL and health levels among majority- and minority-language-speaking adolescents living in different regions of Finland, and to explore if HL explains regional health disparities, taking into account other important structural stratifying factors. The study uses Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey data, collected among 13- and 15-year-old pupils in Finnish- and Swedish-speaking schools in Finland in 2014 (N = 3853/1123; 85/83%). Findings suggest that regional differences in HL levels and regional health disparities exist in both language groups. Health disparities were present in the Finnish-speaking sample among boys, the proportion rating their health as excellent ranging from 23 to 31% across regions, and in the Swedish-speaking sample among girls, the corresponding numbers ranging from 13 to 20%. In addition to other important structural stratifying factors, comprehensive HL explains these regional health disparities. This study adds to prior studies on the role of HL as a modifiable health resource by showing that regional health disparities among adolescents can partially be attributed to corresponding HL differences.

Keywords: young people; health literacy; self-rated health; regional differences

Free keywords: health literacy; self-rated health; adolescents; regional health disparities

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1