A life course approach to health literacy: the role of gender, educational attainment and lifetime cognitive capability.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

social inequalities in health are believed to arise in part because individuals make use of social and economic resources in order to improve survival. In recent years, health literacy has received increased attention as a factor that can help explain differences in health outcomes. However, examination of life course predictors of health literacy has been limited.

Methods

life course data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study 1957-2011 were used to examine predictors of health literacy in old age (N = 2,122), using the Newest Vital Sign. Generalised structural equation modelling was used to model pathways to health literacy.

Results

predictors of health literacy included educational attainment, and adolescent cognitive and non-cognitive skills, and, in men,

SUBMITTER: Clouston SAP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5405758 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature