The Impact of Health Literacy on Health-Promoting Behaviors in Adolescents: A Review Study

Health literacy is a key determinant of health outcomes and plays an essential role in shaping health-promoting behaviors during adolescence. Adolescence is a critical developmental period in which lifelong behavioral patterns are formed, and the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information can substantially affect physical, psychological, and social well-being. The present review study aimed to examine the effect of health literacy on health-promoting behaviors in adolescents. A narrative review approach was adopted to synthesize evidence from previous studies addressing the relationship between health literacy and behaviors such as healthy nutrition, physical activity, personal hygiene, stress management, sleep habits, avoidance of risky behaviors, and utilization of preventive health services. Findings from the reviewed literature indicate that adolescents with higher levels of health literacy are more likely to engage in positive health behaviors, make informed decisions, and demonstrate stronger self-care skills. In contrast, limited health literacy is associated with unhealthy dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, poor mental health management, and greater vulnerability to risky behaviors. Family context, school environment, socioeconomic status, digital media exposure, and access to credible health information were identified as influential factors in this relationship. Overall, the evidence suggests that improving health literacy can strengthen adolescents’ capacity to adopt and maintain health-promoting behaviors. Educational and policy interventions targeting health literacy may therefore contribute to better health outcomes in this population.

کلیدواژه ها:

health literacy ، health-promoting behaviors ، adolescents ، preventive health ، review study