Abstract
It is well established that health literacy positively affects health outcomes, and social support influences this association. What remains unclear is which aspect of social support (instrumental, informational, and emotional support) is responsible for this effect and whether the influence differs from one population group to another. This study addresses these lacunae. It examines the impact each type of support makes on the relation between functional health literacy (FHL) and self-rated health status among younger and older adults in Ghana. Data were pooled from two cross-sectional surveys, together comprising 521 participants in the Ashanti Region. The results indicated that young adults were more likely to possess sufficient FHL and perceive their health more positively than older adults. While FHL was positively associated with health status, the relation was stronger when young adults received a high level of emotional support. Among older persons, informational support substantially moderated the association between FHL and health status. Thus, social support modifies the relations between FHL and health status among younger and older adults in different ways and to different degrees. Therefore, interventions to improve FHL and health amongst younger and older adults should pay due regard to relevant aspects of social support.
Highlights
Health literacy refers to the “cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health” [1]
Sufficient functional health literacy (FHL) was prevalent among young adults, while inadequate FHL was predominant among older adults
The results showed that FHL was positively associated with health status for all groups, young adults were more likely to demonstrate sufficient FHL as compared with older persons
Summary
Health literacy refers to the “cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health” [1]. It is considered a robust determinant of population health and well-being among both younger and older cohorts of populations [2,3]. Studies show that health literacy is determined by a labyrinth of individual and environmental factors. Factors such as educational level, cultural and social norms, the health system, and the interactions among them determine health literacy and its influence on health [1,2,9]
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