Adolescent eHealth Literacy

Abstract

In adults, the literature indicates that health literacy is a robust predictor of health. However, there remains a paucity of literature regarding adolescent health literacy, based on Manganello’s framework for studying adolescent health literacy, one potentially related construct of adolescent health literacy is eHealth literacy. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe (1) the relationship between adolescent health literacy and adolescent eHealth literacy and (2) the influencing factors of adolescent eHealth literacy. This is a cross-sectional, correlational study evaluating results from the online administration of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy instrument and eHEALS eHealth literacy instrument to 125 adolescents. Bivariate correlations and linear regression were performed to examine relationships among variables. There was a significant, negative correlation between eHEALS and NVS scores (r = −.304, p = .001). There were significant, positive relationships between eHEALS scores, age (r = .346, p < .01) and grade level (r = .354, p < .01). There was a significant, positive correlation between NVS scores and reading grade (r = .326, p = < .01). Reading grade and eHEALS scores were significant predictors of NVS scores (R = .093, F = 12.57, p < .001). Therefore, the influencing factors of adolescent health literacy and eHealth literacy are related, but inconsistent. Furthermore, the negative correlation between NVS and eHEALS scores demonstrates that adolescent health literacy and eHealth literacy are associated, but independent constructs. Further research is needed to better understand facilitators and barriers to both constructs as well as their relationship to each other.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• eHealth literacy
• health literacy
• patient education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Baylor University.

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Caldwell

Elizabeth Caldwell, PhD, RN, CNE ([email protected]) is an Associate Professor at Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University. Her research interests include adolescent health literacy, pediatric chronic illness and sickle cell disease.

Erin Killingsworth

Erin Killingsworth, PhD, RN, CNE ([email protected]) is a Clinical Associate Professor at Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University.