Health literacy supports active aging
Eronen, J., Paakkari, L., Portegijs, E., Saajanaho, M., & Rantanen, T. (2021). Health literacy supports active aging. Preventive Medicine, 143, Article 106330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106330
Published in
Preventive MedicineDate
2021Discipline
Gerontologia ja kansanterveysTerveyskasvatusGerontologian tutkimuskeskusHyvinvoinnin tutkimuksen yhteisöGerontology and Public HealthHealth Promotion and Health EducationGerontology Research CenterSchool of WellbeingCopyright
© 2021 Elsevier
From the individual viewpoint, active aging refers to the ability of older persons, depending on their goals, functional capacity and opportunities, to engage in desired activities. This study investigated the role of health literacy in active aging among persons differing in their number of chronic conditions. Data were collected from 948 individuals, 57% women, aged 75, 80 and 85 in 2017–2018 in the city of Jyväskylä in Central Finland. Health literacy was assessed with the 16-question version of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q16), active aging with the University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (UJACAS) and self-reported physician-diagnosed chronic conditions. Both health literacy (r = 0.40) and number of chronic conditions (r = −0.21) correlated with the active aging score. Linear regression models revealed that health literacy was a stronger predictor than chronic conditions of active aging (β 0.18, p < 0.001 vs. β −0.06, p = 0.030) and that its predictive value remained statistically significant after adjustment for cognitive capacity, number of depressive symptoms, physical performance and length of education. Higher health literacy can enable older persons, including those with multiple chronic conditions, to maintain higher levels of active aging. As more people are projected to live with chronic conditions to older ages, health literacy may help them to cope with illnesses and functional limitations and lead a fulfilling life. These cross-sectional findings lay a foundation for future prospective and experimental studies on health literacy and active aging.
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ElsevierISSN Search the Publication Forum
0091-7435Keywords
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https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/47110033
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- Liikuntatieteiden tiedekunta [3120]
Related funder(s)
Research Council of Finland; European CommissionFunding program(s)
Academy Project, AoF; ERC European Research Council, H2020
The content of the publication reflects only the author’s view. The funder is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
Additional information about funding
This work was supported by the European Research Counsil (grant number 693045 to TR); the Academy of Finland (grant number 255403 to TR); Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation (JE) and The Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland (EP). Writing this article (MS) was also funded by the Academy of Finland (grant number 323541). The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.License
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