Health Literacy Prediction Based on Information Literacy and Physical Literacy Components: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aims: Despite the growing recognition of the importance of physical literacy, information literacy, and health literacy, there is a lack of research on their relationships among university staff. This study aimed to investigate the predictive relationship between health literacy and the components of information literacy and physical literacy among staff at university. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling, the study collected information among 250 administrative university staff via demographic, health literacy, information literacy, and physical literacy instruments. To identify predictors of health literacy, a multiple linear regression model was fitted with health literacy as the dependent variable. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS. Results: The mean scores for health literacy, physical literacy, and information literacy were 3.98, 3.31, and 3.08, respectively. The results showed that health literacy is significantly and positively associated with information literacy (β = 0.84, p = 0.001) and education (β = 0.14, p = 0.02). The findings indicated that information literacy was a strong predictor of health literacy, with no significant relationships found between physical literacy, age, marital status, and gender, and health literacy. Conclusion: Information literacy was a robust predictor of health literacy, independent of physical literacy, age, marital status, or gender. Education also contributed to health literacy, albeit to a modest extent. Interventions aiming to boost health literacy should prioritize strengthening information literacy skills, with considerations for educational background to optimize impact.