Health literacy level and its influencing factors among college students majoring in sports : a cross-sectional study

This study, based on a cross-sectional study of over one thousand sports-major students, confirms that their overall health literacy averages only 31.49%. Specifically,"basic health skills"and "basic medical care"literacy both fall below 30%, emerging as the weakest domains. Binary logistic regression further identifies smoking, sophomore-junior students, and high-frequency exercise as key risk factors. By offering the first tracking of sports-major students' health literacy and pinpointing precise intervention targets, the research fills an important evidence gap and provides an empirical foundation for tailored interventions. We recommend integrating tobacco-control education into the curriculum of sports majors, conducting continuous health literacy monitoring for sophomore-junior students, enhancing sport-specific skills, as well as exploring the mysteries of health with students through the application scenarios of health education theories and skills.