INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH LITERACY AND RISKY HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENTS

ABSTRACT

Aim: Adolescence is a period in which lifestyles and behaviors are shaped. The behaviors acquired in this period continue their effects throughout life. Positive behaviors contribute to the protection and development of health, while negative behaviors cause an increase in mortality and morbidity. The concept of health literacy, which includes the processes of accessing health-related information, understanding, evaluating and applying processes, has an important place in the adolescence period. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between health literacy and risky health behaviors in adolescents.

Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 382 students from two high schools in Konya, between 2018 and 2019. The dependent variable of the study is risky health behaviors, and the main independent variable is health literacy level. Data were collected using the Turkish Health Literacy Scale, Risky Health Behaviors Scale, and sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, which were distributed and collected by the researcher. T Test, One Way Anova Test, Mann Whitney-U Test, Kruskal-Wallis Test and Pearson Correlation Test were used in data analysis.

Results: In the study, the mean score of the Health Literacy Scale was found to be 34.3±8.7 and the mean score of the Risky Health Behaviors Scale was found to be 44.9±7.7. When risky health behaviors were examined according to students' health literacy levels, it was found that students with excellent and sufficient health literacy had significantly lower risk health behaviors (p<0.001).

Conclusion: As a result of the study, it is seen that students with high health literacy levels have lower risky health behaviors. It is recommended to increase the level of health literacy in order to reduce risky health behaviors observed in adolescents.

Key words: Adolescence, health literacy, risky behaviors, healthy behavior