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Subjective Generic Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors among Adolescents: Results of a Population-Based Online Survey in Germany

Author

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  • Anne-Kathrin M. Loer

    (Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, General-Pape-Str. 62-66, 12101 Berlin, Germany)

  • Olga M. Domanska

    (Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, General-Pape-Str. 62-66, 12101 Berlin, Germany)

  • Christiane Stock

    (Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Susanne Jordan

    (Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, General-Pape-Str. 62-66, 12101 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Profound data on adolescent health literacy are needed as a requirement for the development of health literacy promoting interventions. This paper aims to study the level of generic health literacy among adolescents and to explore associations between health literacy and socio-demographic (age, sex, family affluence, migration background), social (social support by family and friends) and personal (self-efficacy) factors. We conducted a representative cross-sectional online survey. Four health literacy dimensions were captured among 14–17 years old adolescents living in Germany ( n = 1235) with the “Measurement of Health Literacy Among Adolescents-Questionnaire” (MOHLAA-Q). Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data ( n = 1202). We found poor health literacy levels—to varying degrees—in all examined health literacy dimensions: dealing with health-related information (8.41% with many difficulties), health-related communication skills (28.13% with low skills), attitudes toward one’s own health and health information (8.81% with passive attitudes) and health-related knowledge (22.73% with low levels). We identified significant associations between poor health literacy levels and all factors studied except for age. Our results indicate a need for the implementation of evidence-based health literacy-related promoting interventions, preferentially in education and training institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne-Kathrin M. Loer & Olga M. Domanska & Christiane Stock & Susanne Jordan, 2020. "Subjective Generic Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors among Adolescents: Results of a Population-Based Online Survey in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-23, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8682-:d:449490
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    1. Anne-Kathrin M. Loer & Olga M. Domanska & Christiane Stock & Susanne Jordan, 2022. "Correction: Loer et al. Subjective Generic Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors among Adolescents: Results of a Population-Based Online Survey in Germany. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 202," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-3, February.
    2. Dorota Kleszczewska & Katarzyna Porwit & Zuzana Boberova & Eric Sigmund & Jana Vasickova & Leena Paakkari, 2021. "Adolescent Health Literacy and Neighbourhood Features: HBSC Findings from Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Neida Neto Vicente Ramos & Inês Fronteira & Maria Rosário Oliveira Martins, 2022. "Building a Health Literacy Indicator from Angola Demographic and Health Survey in 2015/2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Sandra Kirchhoff & Kevin Dadaczynski & Jürgen M. Pelikan & Inge Zelinka-Roitner & Christina Dietscher & Uwe H. Bittlingmayer & Orkan Okan, 2022. "Organizational Health Literacy in Schools: Concept Development for Health-Literate Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Patrizio Zanobini & Marco Del Riccio & Chiara Lorini & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, 2024. "Empowering Sustainable Healthcare: The Role of Health Literacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.

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