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The Relationship between Functional Health Literacy, Self-Rated Health, and Social Support between Younger and Older Adults in Ghana

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  • Padmore Adusei Amoah

    (School of Graduate Studies; Asia Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies; Centre for Social Policy & Social Change, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR))

Abstract

It is well established that health literacy positively affects health outcomes, and social support influences this association. What remains unclear is which aspect of social support (instrumental, informational, and emotional support) is responsible for this effect and whether the influence differs from one population group to another. This study addresses these lacunae. It examines the impact each type of support makes on the relation between functional health literacy (FHL) and self-rated health status among younger and older adults in Ghana. Data were pooled from two cross-sectional surveys, together comprising 521 participants in the Ashanti Region. The results indicated that young adults were more likely to possess sufficient FHL and perceive their health more positively than older adults. While FHL was positively associated with health status, the relation was stronger when young adults received a high level of emotional support. Among older persons, informational support substantially moderated the association between FHL and health status. Thus, social support modifies the relations between FHL and health status among younger and older adults in different ways and to different degrees. Therefore, interventions to improve FHL and health amongst younger and older adults should pay due regard to relevant aspects of social support.

Suggested Citation

  • Padmore Adusei Amoah, 2019. "The Relationship between Functional Health Literacy, Self-Rated Health, and Social Support between Younger and Older Adults in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3188-:d:262834
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nutbeam, Don, 2008. "The evolving concept of health literacy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2072-2078, December.
    2. Chi-Ming Hsieh & Bi-Kun Tsai, 2019. "Effects of Social Support on the Stress-Health Relationship: Gender Comparison among Military Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Isabella Aboderin, 2004. "Decline in Material Family Support for Older People in Urban Ghana, Africa: Understanding Processes and Causes of Change," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 59(3), pages 128-137.
    4. Padmore Adusei Amoah & Joseph Edusei & David Amuzu, 2018. "Social Networks and Health: Understanding the Nuances of Healthcare Access between Urban and Rural Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiafeng Gu & Ruiyu Zhu, 2020. "Social Capital and Self-Rated Health: Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Tetine Sentell & Sandra Vamos & Orkan Okan, 2020. "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Literacy Research Around the World: More Important Than Ever in a Time of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, April.

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