Park Aesoon, Eckert Tanya L, Zaso Michelle J, Scott-Sheldon Lori A J, Vanable Peter A, Carey Kate B, Ewart Craig K, Carey Michael P
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, 430 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244.
Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University.
J Sch Health. 2017 Dec;87(12):885-893. doi: 10.1111/josh.12567.
Health literacy is crucial to develop health-related knowledge, adopt healthy lifestyles, and benefit from health care services. However, research on the association between health literacy and adolescent health outcomes, particularly on their prospective associations, is rare. We assessed health literacy using 3 validated measures, and examined cross-sectional and prospective associations between health literacy and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes.
We conducted a short-term prospective study of 250 adolescents (mean age = 14 years; 57% female; 48% African American) who were entering or in the ninth grade in an urban school district. Health literacy was assessed by individual interviews at baseline, and health-related behaviors and outcomes were assessed by a paper-and-pencil survey at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up.
Nearly half of the sample was reading at least 2 grades below expected levels. Lower baseline health literacy was associated with a lower self-rating of general health, unhealthier diet, heavier weight, and greater engagement in problem behaviors and sexual behaviors at baseline. Lower baseline health literacy also was associated with a greater increase in substance use over time.
Results point to the pressing need to improve health literacy in urban high school students.
健康素养对于积累健康相关知识、采取健康生活方式以及从医疗保健服务中获益至关重要。然而，关于健康素养与青少年健康结果之间的关联，尤其是前瞻性关联的研究却很少。我们使用3种经过验证的测量方法评估了健康素养，并研究了健康素养与青少年健康行为及结果之间的横断面关联和前瞻性关联。
我们对250名青少年（平均年龄 = 14岁；57%为女性；48%为非裔美国人）进行了一项短期前瞻性研究，这些青少年即将进入或正在城市学区的九年级就读。在基线时通过个人访谈评估健康素养，在基线和6个月随访时通过纸笔调查评估与健康相关的行为和结果。
近一半的样本阅读水平至少比预期低两个年级。较低的基线健康素养与较低的总体健康自评、不健康的饮食、更重的体重以及在基线时更多地参与问题行为和性行为有关。较低的基线健康素养还与随着时间推移物质使用的增加幅度更大有关。
结果表明迫切需要提高城市高中生的健康素养。
