The Association Between Health Literacy and Physical Activity in the U.S. Population Open Access

Abstract

Low health literacy is a prevalent issue affecting the health of the U.S population. To understand how literacy truly affects overall health, there is a need to determine how health literacy is associated with specific health behaviors. There is strong evidence that physical activity is a health behavior that significantly impacts overall health status. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between health literacy and physical activity. This relationship can explain the role of health literacy as one influential factor of an individual’s health status. This study analyzed data from 2,593 individuals who completed the Health Information National Trends Survey 5 (Cycle 1). Two multivariate logistic regression models were run, one for aerobic physical activity and one for muscle-strengthening physical activity. Differences in physical activity level were not statistically significant across any of the health literacy groups. For the model of aerobic physical activity, there was a trend of higher health literacy being associated with greater likelihood of adequate physical activity (OR=1.97; 95% CI: 0.97 – 3.61). There was not a clear trend for the association between health literacy and muscle-strengthening activity. The results of this study do not indicate a relationship between health literacy and physical activity. The lack of significant association between health literacy and activity in the general population may suggest that associations are more significant among medically vulnerable subpopulations such as individuals with chronic conditions. This information still supports the importance of health literacy and may further highlight the necessity of targeted public health programs that address particularly vulnerable groups.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

Chapter I: Literature Review.............................................................................................. 1

Chapter II: Manuscript

Introduction…....................................................................................................... 11

Methods................................................................................................................. 13

Results................................................................................................................... 18

Discussion............................................................................................................. 20

References............................................................................................................. 25

Tables.................................................................................................................... 32

Appendix............................................................................................................... 35

About this Master's Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	health behavior physical activity health literacy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Julie Gazmararian, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

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