IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i18p3397-d266931.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/18/3397/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/18/3397/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Stinne Eika Rasmussen & Anna Aaby & Anne Søjbjerg & Anna Mygind & Helle Terkildsen Maindal & Olli Paakkari & Kaj Sparle Christensen, 2023. "The Brief Health Literacy Scale for Adults: Adaptation and Validation of the Health Literacy for School-Aged Children Questionnaire," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-13, November.
    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huong Thu Le & Ha Trong Nguyen, 2018. "The evolution of the gender test score gap through seventh grade: new insights from Australia using unconditional quantile regression and decomposition," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-42, December.
    2. Borgna, Camilla & Struffolino, Emanuela, 2017. "Pushed or pulled? Girls and boys facing early school leaving risk in Italy," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 61, pages 298-313.
    3. Giofrè, D. & Allen, K. & Toffalini, E. & Mammarella, I.C. & Caviola, S., 2022. "Decoding gender differences: Intellectual profiles of children with specific learning disabilities," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    4. Shulamit Kahn & Donna Ginther, 2017. "Women and STEM," NBER Working Papers 23525, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Trine Filges & Jens Dietrichson & Bjørn C. A. Viinholt & Nina T. Dalgaard, 2022. "Service learning for improving academic success in students in grade K to 12: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), March.
    6. Maarten Jan Wensink & Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt & Sören Möller, 2020. "Variability Matters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Afkar,Rythia & Yarrow,Noah Bunce & Surbakti,Soedarti & Cooper,Rachel Danielle, 2020. "Inclusion in Indonesia's Education Sector : A Subnational Review of Gender Gaps and Children with Disabilities," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9282, The World Bank.
    8. Markus Daniel Meier, 2021. "Ars docendi," Books, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, number 1325, htpr_v3_i.
    9. Giannelli, Gianna Claudia & Rapallini, Chiara, 2016. "Immigrant student performance in Math: Does it matter where you come from?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 291-304.
    10. Li, Dai & Wang, Yizhen & Li, Lantian, 2023. "Educational choice has greater effects on sex ratios of college STEM majors than has the greater male variance in general intelligence (g)," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    11. Morten K. Thomsen & Julie K. Seerup & Jens Dietrichson & Anja Bondebjerg & Bjørn C. A. Viinholt, 2022. "PROTOCOL: Testing frequency and student achievement: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), March.
    12. Trine Filges & Jens Dietrichson & Bjørn C. A. Viinholt & Nina T. Dalgaard, 2021. "PROTOCOL: Service learning for improving academic success in students in grade K to 12: a systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), June.
    13. Cristian Bonavida, 2022. "Lo que hacemos con lo que sabemos. Brechas de género en habilidades y tareas en América Latina," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4542, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.
    14. Beyoh Dieudone Nkepah (PhD), 2023. "Flipped Learning Method: Possible Antidote for Achieving Gender Equality in Mathematics in Secondary Schools in Cameroon and Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS), vol. 8(10), pages 67-79, October.
    15. M. E Letsoalo, 2018. "The Effect of Mathematics and Physical Science on Matriculants’ Overall Performances: Analysis Using Multilevel Model," Journal of Education and Vocational Research, AMH International, vol. 8(4), pages 28-42.
    16. Jens Dietrichson & Trine Filges & Rasmus H. Klokker & Bjørn C. A. Viinholt & Martin Bøg & Ulla H. Jensen, 2020. "Targeted school‐based interventions for improving reading and mathematics for students with, or at risk of, academic difficulties in Grades 7–12: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(2), June.
    17. Loesche, Philipp Manuel, 2019. "Estimating the true extent of gender differences in scholastic achievement: A neural network approach," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    18. Gijsbert Stoet & Drew H Bailey & Alex M Moore & David C Geary, 2016. "Countries with Higher Levels of Gender Equality Show Larger National Sex Differences in Mathematics Anxiety and Relatively Lower Parental Mathematics Valuation for Girls," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, April.
    19. Munir, Farzana & Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf, 2018. "Decomposing international gender test score differences," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 52(1), pages 1-12.
    20. Ülle Säälik, 2015. "Reading performance, learning strategies, gender and school language as related issues ? PISA 2009 findings in Finland and Estonia," International Journal of Teaching and Education, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, vol. 3(2), pages 17-30, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3397-:d:266931. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.