Abstract
Objective: To examine the mechanisms linking health literacy to physical activity and selfreported health. Methods: From 2005-2007, patients (N=330) with hypertension were recruited from safety net clinics. Pathanalytic models tested the pathways linking health literacy to physical activity and self-reported health. Results: There were significant paths from health literacy to knowledge (r=0.22, P<0.001), knowledge to self-efficacy (r=0.13, P<0.01), self-efficacy to physical activity (r=0.17, P<0.01), and physical activity to health status (r=0.17, P<0.01). Conclusions: Health education interventions should be literacy sensitive and aim to enhance patient health knowledge and self-efficacy to promote self-care behavior and desirable health outcomes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 118-128 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | American Journal of Health Behavior |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Health behavior.
- Health literacy.
- Health status
- Knowledge.
- Selfefficacy.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health