Predicting Health-Protective Behaviors Through Health Literacy: A Study of Pakistani Hostelites

This research aimed to investigate the impact of health literacy on health protective behavior of university hostelites in Pakistan, which are a sometimes-ignored population in studies about health behavior. A total of 315 volunteering students (160 boys and 155 girls) were selected and sampled from the public universities. Findings indicate that there was significant positive relationship (r = .46, p <.01) between health literacy and health protective behavior. Regression analysis also supported the finding that health literacy was a significant predictor of health protective behavior (β = .48, R² = .23, p < .001) indicating that students with greater health literacy were more likely to adopt health protective behavior (proper hygiene, balanced diet and exercising). Analysis of reliability indicated good internal consistency of both scales (α = .86 and .85, respectively). There was no significant difference between gender. These results support the importance of health promotion initiatives in Pakistani universities, especially among university students accommodated in hostels who tend to manage their health themselves. Enhancing health literacy can be crucial for enhancing student well-being and a health-conscious academic environment.