Association between family empowerment and health literacy among parents with preschool children

Abstract Background For parents raising children, obtaining information and working together to solve problems in a family, including those related to the child’s health, is vital (family empowerment). Communicative and critical health literacy is the ability to acquire and utilize information through communication and to critically analyze and use it to manage one’s life. This may enhance family empowerment. We aimed to examine the association between family empowerment and health literacy among Japanese parents. Methods Data from parents of preschool children aged 3-6 years were collected through an online survey in September 2023. Family empowerment was measured using the Family Empowerment Scale for Parents (FES-P) with five sub-factors (26 items in total) using a 7-point Likert scale. Communicative and critical health literacy was measured using the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (CCHL) scale, which includes five items on a 5-point Likert scale. Multivariable regression analysis was used to examine this association. Age, sex, education, income, employment status, number and age of children, and family members were used as covariates. Results Participants included 600 fathers and 600 mothers. The mean FES-P score was 116.5 (SD 23.0) and the mean CCHL score was 3.50 (SD 0.69). In the crude model, CCHL was statistically significantly associated with FES-P and all five sub-factors, such as ‘relationship within the family’. After adjustment for all covariates, the association remained significant for FES-P (beta=0.28, p < 0.001) and sub-factors such as ‘relationship with the community’. However, ‘recognition and combined use of services’ was not statistically significant (beta=0.05, p = 0.078). The income level showed a significant association with family empowerment and all sub-factors, independent of health literacy. Conclusions Health literacy was associated with family empowerment. Improving health literacy could contribute to strengthening family empowerment. Key messages • Improving health literacy could contribute to strengthening family empowerment. • Financial support may be needed to strengthen family empowerment since income level was associated with it.