The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Health Behaviors by Demographic Characteristics and Social Support

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze whether there are differences in health literacy and health behaviors according to demographic characteristics and social support among middle-aged and elderly people, and to provide basic data for health literacy improvement by identifying the correlation between these variables. Methods : This study utilized data from the Health Literacy and Related Factors Survey, which was conducted on 402 adults aged 50 and older. Health literacy was measured using a 16-item Likert scale, and t-test and ANOVA were used to analyze differences among demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and social support items, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze correlations. Results : There was a significant difference in health literacy scores by gender and education level (p<0.05), and effort to practice healthy eating and frequency of checking nutrition labels were positively correlated with health literacy. In contrast, alcohol consumption, number of chronic diseases, and healthcare visits were not significantly correlated with health literacy. In addition, those who reported feeling socially supported had significantly higher health literacy scores on all items (p<0.05). Conclusion : We found that health literacy is strongly associated with certain population characteristics, routine health behaviors, and social support. Emotional factors and informational support, such as the presence of advisors and trusted people, were found to have a positive impact on health literacy. Therefore, future health literacy programs should consider integrating social relationships and tailored health behavior education for middle-aged and older adults.