Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach

Background: We aimed to determine the level of health literacy (HL), and its association with general health. In addition, we investigated the direct and indirect association of socioeconomic status (SES) and general health among the adult population in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional stud...

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Main Authors: Tayebeh Nadi, Jalal Poorolajal, Amin Doosti-Irani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2023-08-01
Series:Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/ebph/article/view/20864
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author Tayebeh Nadi
Jalal Poorolajal
Amin Doosti-Irani
author_facet Tayebeh Nadi
Jalal Poorolajal
Amin Doosti-Irani
author_sort Tayebeh Nadi
collection DOAJ
description Background: We aimed to determine the level of health literacy (HL), and its association with general health. In addition, we investigated the direct and indirect association of socioeconomic status (SES) and general health among the adult population in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 750 literate adults' people. The SES was assessed based on the owning of assets. HL was evaluated using a validated questionnaire in Iran. General health was assessed using the WHO general health questionnaire. The simple and adjusted linear regression models, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for data analysis. Results: In adjusted model, female gender, higher level of education, use of books, pamphlets, or brochures as a source of health information, the higher level of SES were positively associated with higher HL. In addition, the HL was significantly associated with higher scores of general health. Results of SEM showed that the direct effect of SES on general health was not significant, but the indirect effect via HL was significant (path coefficient: 0.24; p<0.001). Conclusion: Results of our study indicated HL is strongly associated with general health among the adult population. SES had a significant indirect association with general health via the effect on health literacy.
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spelling doaj-art-02820180eb674e7da78f66d612ddc6a32025-08-20T02:08:36ZengMilano University PressEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health2282-09302023-08-0117210.2427/13312Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approachTayebeh Nadi0Jalal Poorolajal1Amin Doosti-Irani2Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, IranHamadan University of Medical Sciences, IranHamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran Background: We aimed to determine the level of health literacy (HL), and its association with general health. In addition, we investigated the direct and indirect association of socioeconomic status (SES) and general health among the adult population in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 750 literate adults' people. The SES was assessed based on the owning of assets. HL was evaluated using a validated questionnaire in Iran. General health was assessed using the WHO general health questionnaire. The simple and adjusted linear regression models, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for data analysis. Results: In adjusted model, female gender, higher level of education, use of books, pamphlets, or brochures as a source of health information, the higher level of SES were positively associated with higher HL. In addition, the HL was significantly associated with higher scores of general health. Results of SEM showed that the direct effect of SES on general health was not significant, but the indirect effect via HL was significant (path coefficient: 0.24; p<0.001). Conclusion: Results of our study indicated HL is strongly associated with general health among the adult population. SES had a significant indirect association with general health via the effect on health literacy. https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/ebph/article/view/20864
spellingShingle Tayebeh Nadi
Jalal Poorolajal
Amin Doosti-Irani
Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health
title Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach
title_full Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach
title_fullStr Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach
title_full_unstemmed Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach
title_short Socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in Iran: a structural equation modeling approach
title_sort socioeconomic status and health literacy as the important predictors of general health in iran a structural equation modeling approach
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/ebph/article/view/20864
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AT amindoostiirani socioeconomicstatusandhealthliteracyastheimportantpredictorsofgeneralhealthiniranastructuralequationmodelingapproach