Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents

Abstract Identifying risk factors of poor self-rated health during adolescence is critical for the subsequent health status. The aim of this study was to investigate the most important determinants of self-rated health (SRH) in Iranian adolescents. This was a population-based cross-sectional study r...

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Main Authors: Ibrahim Abdollahpour, Maryam Yazdi, Roya Kelishadi, Olli Paakkari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03965-x
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author Ibrahim Abdollahpour
Maryam Yazdi
Roya Kelishadi
Olli Paakkari
author_facet Ibrahim Abdollahpour
Maryam Yazdi
Roya Kelishadi
Olli Paakkari
author_sort Ibrahim Abdollahpour
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Identifying risk factors of poor self-rated health during adolescence is critical for the subsequent health status. The aim of this study was to investigate the most important determinants of self-rated health (SRH) in Iranian adolescents. This was a population-based cross-sectional study recruiting 605 adolescents in Isfahan, Iran. Simple random sampling method was employed. Multivariable linear regression model was utilized for determining the adjusted beta coefficient for health literacy (HL) and the study main confounders. The SRH of 93.2% of participants was satisfied or very satisfied. The majority of participants had moderate or high levels of HL (94.7%). Based on the standardized linear regression coefficients, HL was the most important correlates of SRH followed by happiness and loneliness, respectively. The mean of SRH in those with high HL, on average, was 0.48 units better than those with low HL (95% CI 0.23, 0.72), P < 0.001). We also found that happiness and satisfaction in child-parent relationship were positively correlated with SRH. Inversely, the history of passive smoking, loneliness and higher values of BMI significantly decreased the SRH in adolescents. We demonstrated health literacy, happiness and loneliness as the most important correlates of SRH. Considering the central role of adolescence on later health, the findings of current study imply that adolescence health promotion strategies, beside the formerly well-demonstrated factors, will best be targeted on health literacy to impact the general health positively.
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spelling doaj-art-7910fcd3e9c14deabda5639ac691e7612025-08-20T03:16:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-011511610.1038/s41598-025-03965-xHealth literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescentsIbrahim Abdollahpour0Maryam Yazdi1Roya Kelishadi2Olli Paakkari3Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesChild Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesChild Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of JyväskyläAbstract Identifying risk factors of poor self-rated health during adolescence is critical for the subsequent health status. The aim of this study was to investigate the most important determinants of self-rated health (SRH) in Iranian adolescents. This was a population-based cross-sectional study recruiting 605 adolescents in Isfahan, Iran. Simple random sampling method was employed. Multivariable linear regression model was utilized for determining the adjusted beta coefficient for health literacy (HL) and the study main confounders. The SRH of 93.2% of participants was satisfied or very satisfied. The majority of participants had moderate or high levels of HL (94.7%). Based on the standardized linear regression coefficients, HL was the most important correlates of SRH followed by happiness and loneliness, respectively. The mean of SRH in those with high HL, on average, was 0.48 units better than those with low HL (95% CI 0.23, 0.72), P < 0.001). We also found that happiness and satisfaction in child-parent relationship were positively correlated with SRH. Inversely, the history of passive smoking, loneliness and higher values of BMI significantly decreased the SRH in adolescents. We demonstrated health literacy, happiness and loneliness as the most important correlates of SRH. Considering the central role of adolescence on later health, the findings of current study imply that adolescence health promotion strategies, beside the formerly well-demonstrated factors, will best be targeted on health literacy to impact the general health positively.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03965-xSelf-rated healthAdolescentsHealth literacyHappinessLoneliness
spellingShingle Ibrahim Abdollahpour
Maryam Yazdi
Roya Kelishadi
Olli Paakkari
Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents
Scientific Reports
Self-rated health
Adolescents
Health literacy
Happiness
Loneliness
title Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents
title_full Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents
title_fullStr Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents
title_short Health literacy as the most important covariate of self-rated health in adolescents
title_sort health literacy as the most important covariate of self rated health in adolescents
topic Self-rated health
Adolescents
Health literacy
Happiness
Loneliness
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03965-x
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AT maryamyazdi healthliteracyasthemostimportantcovariateofselfratedhealthinadolescents
AT royakelishadi healthliteracyasthemostimportantcovariateofselfratedhealthinadolescents
AT ollipaakkari healthliteracyasthemostimportantcovariateofselfratedhealthinadolescents