Subjective health literacy among school-aged children
Paakkari, O., Torppa, M., Villberg, J., Kannas, L., & Paakkari, L. (2018). Subjective health literacy among school-aged children. Health Education, 118(2), 182-195. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-02-2017-0014
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Health EducationDate
2018Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited 2018. This is a final draft version of an article whose final and definitive form has been published by Emerald. Published in this repository with the kind permission of the publisher.
Purpose The aim of this study was to explore Finnish adolescents’ subjective health literacy
(HL) in association to school achievement, learning difficulties, educational aspirations, and
family affluence.
Design/methodology/approach Nationally representative data were collected in Finland as
part of the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. The
respondents consisted in total of 3,833 adolescents (7th and 9th graders) from 359 schools.
The Health Literacy for School-aged Children (HLSAC) instrument was applied to measure
adolescents’ subjective HL, while the Family Affluence Scale (FAS) was used to measure
adolescents’ socioeconomic status. Information was gathered on school achievement,
learning difficulties, and educational aspirations.
Findings Approximately one third of the adolescents manifested a high level of HL, around
60% had a moderate level of HL, and about one tenth had low HL. The HL level was lower for
boys than for girls, and lower for 7th graders than for 9th graders. In the total sample the
strongest explanatory variables for HL were school achievement in the first language, and
educational aspirations.
Originality/value This study provides the first Finnish nationally representative examination
of adolescents’ subjective HL levels, and how these vary across age and gender groups. In
drawing conclusions and presenting suggestions for HL interventions, it is important to
verify the nature of the HL examined in any given study, and how it was researched.
...


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https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/27792331
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Academy of FinlandFunding program(s)
Research post as Academy Research Fellow, AoF
Additional information about funding
This study is funded by National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland and Academy of Finland (No. 276239).Related items
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