How Different Health Literacy Dimensions Influences Health Status and Well-being among Men and Women: The Mediating Role of Health Behaviors

Background. Health literacy, the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information, was found to contribute to positive health outcomes, possibly via promoting healthy behaviors. However, the specific pathways linking different health literacy skills to health and well-being has remained unclear. Methods. A cross-sectional survey with structural questionnaires was administered among 2236 community-based adults in Hong Kong (mean age = 46.10 ±19.05). Health literacy was measured by HLS-Asian-47. Participants' health behavior, physical conditions, and subjective well-being were reported.Results. With structural modeling path analysis, health literacy in finding and understanding information showed a direct effect on enhancing physical health. While applying information capacity had an indirect positive effect via promoting health behaviors, which was moderated by sex. Only among women, this indirect effect predicting fewer physical symptoms and better well-being was significant.Conclusions. Although similar patterns were found in physical condition and well-being, distinct direct and indirect pathways were found of different health literacy dimensions for men and women. Based on the findings, by targeting specific health literacy skills, education programs should be developed to enhance women’s health knowledge, and men's application of the knowledge in healthy lifestyle.