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Subjective Health Literacy among School-Aged Children: First Evidence from Lithuania

Author

Listed:
  • Saulius Sukys

    (Department of Physical and Social Education, Lithuanian Sports University, Sporto 6, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Laima Trinkuniene

    (Department of Physical and Social Education, Lithuanian Sports University, Sporto 6, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Ilona Tilindiene

    (Department of Physical and Social Education, Lithuanian Sports University, Sporto 6, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania)

Abstract

Health literacy as a set of competencies to promote and sustain health has received significant research attention, particularly in studies on adults. Improving health literacy at an early age is crucial to personal health and development, so there is a need to investigate the health literacy of school-aged children. The aims of this study were to determine the level of subjective health literacy among adolescents in Lithuania and to examine the association between health literacy, school achievement, health education in schools, and family affluence. Health literacy was assessed using a brief Health Literacy for School-Aged Children instrument on a representative sample of 2369 subjects (from the 7th to 10th grades). Overall, 12.1% of all respondents had low, 70.5% moderate, and 17.4% a high level of health literacy. School achievements were found to be a significant predictor of health literacy, as were the number of school-based health promotion events. Family affluence also predicted an increased level of health literacy. This study was the first nationally representative examination of this topic in Lithuania and it highlighted the alarming finding that less than one-fifth of adolescents had high health literacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Saulius Sukys & Laima Trinkuniene & Ilona Tilindiene, 2019. "Subjective Health Literacy among School-Aged Children: First Evidence from Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3397-:d:266931
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gijsbert Stoet & David C Geary, 2013. "Sex Differences in Mathematics and Reading Achievement Are Inversely Related: Within- and Across-Nation Assessment of 10 Years of PISA Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(3), pages 1-10, March.
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    2. 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.
    3. Elke Knisel & Helge Rupprich & Annika Wunram & Markus Bremer & Christiane Desaive, 2020. "Promotion of Elementary School Students’ Health Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Sandra Vamos & Orkan Okan & Tetine Sentell & Irving Rootman, 2020. "Making a Case for “Education for Health Literacy”: An International Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-18, February.
    7. Leena Paakkari & Minna Torppa & Joanna Mazur & Zuzana Boberova & Gorden Sudeck & Michal Kalman & Olli Paakkari, 2020. "A Comparative Study on Adolescents’ Health Literacy in Europe: Findings from the HBSC Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
    8. Dorota Kleszczewska & Joanna Mazur & Katarzyna Porwit & Anna Kowalewska, 2022. "Who Is Able to Resist What Is Forbidden?—The Relationship between Health Literacy and Risk Behaviours in Secondary School Students in the Broader Social and Educational Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Shuaijun Guo & Xiaoming Yu & Elise Davis & Rebecca Armstrong & Elisha Riggs & Lucio Naccarella, 2020. "Adolescent Health Literacy in Beijing and Melbourne: A Cross-Cultural Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
    10. 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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