Analysis of the mediating role of life style in the relationship between health literacy and self-rated health employing structural equation modeling.

Self-rated health is related to the reduction of the burden of diseases and health outcomes. Various factors affect self-rated health. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of life style in the relationship between health literacy and self-rated health. In 2023, 495 people aged 18-65 participated in this cross-sectional study. Montazeri et al.'s health literacy questionnaire, Eshaghi et al.'s healthy life style assessment questionnaire, and the self-rated health (SRH) questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization were used. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Stata version 14.2 software. Based on the results, a significant total effect of health literacy on self-rated health (β = - 0.27,p = 0.001), was identified. Life style (β = - 0.20) had a direct effect on self-rated health (p < 0.001). The result from SEM indicated that health literacy exhibited a direct effect on life style (β  = 0.72). In addition, the principal hypothesis of this research posits the mediating function of lifestyle within the interrelationship between the two constructs of health literacy and self-rated health. Considering the mediating role of life style in the relationship between health literacy and self-rated health, to improve self-rated health, in addition to paying attention to the role of health literacy, it is necessary to take effective measures to positively change people's lifestyle.