The relationship between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors are both pivotal elements for public health improvement. This meta-analysis aims to scrutinize studies investigating the nexus between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors and to examine the correlation between health literacy and such behaviors.

METHODS

Studies conducted from 2013 to 2023 exploring the association between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors, as well as the impact of gender and chronic disease status on health literacy, were included. The selection criteria for the meta-analysis involved a literature search utilizing databases such as PubMed, Google Academic, Web of Science, and the National Thesis Center. The keywords "health literacy" and "healthy lifestyle behaviors" were employed, identifying 206 studies. Subsequently, 53 studies meeting predetermined criteria were deemed suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis of the relationship between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors revealed no publication bias. Despite heterogeneity among the studies, the correlation effect size was determined to be 0.278 using the random effect model. In the meta-analysis examining the effect of gender on health literacy, no publication bias was detected. Since there was heterogeneity among the studies, the average effect size was calculated as 0.078 according to the random effect model. Regarding the meta-analysis on the effect of chronic disease status on health literacy, no publication bias was observed, and due to homogeneity between the studies, the average effect size was determined to be -0.098 using the fixed effect model.

CONCLUSION

A positive yet weak relationship was identified between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Notably, gender was a significant sociodemographic factor affecting health literacy, with higher levels observed in women. Moreover, individuals without chronic diseases exhibited higher mean health literacy scores than those with chronic diseases.