Does health literacy mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and health disparities? Integrative review

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. e1-e17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coraline Stormacq ◽  
Stephan Van den Broucke ◽  
Jacqueline Wosinski
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Socioeconomic Disparities ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factor ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship

Summary While socioeconomic disparities are among the most fundamental causes of health disparities, socioeconomic status (SES) does not impact health directly. One of the potential mediating factors that link SES and health is health literacy (HL). Yet although HL can be considered a modifiable risk factor of socioeconomic disparities in health, the relationship between SES, HL and health disparities is not well understood. This study reviewed the evidence regarding the mediating role of HL in the relationship between socioeconomic and health disparities. Medline, Cinahl, Embase, PsychInfo, Eric, Web of Science, Google, Google Scholar, Mednar, Doaj and Worldcat were used to retrieve studies that specifically addressed socioeconomic and socio-demographic factors related to low HL levels, as well as the mediating role of HL in the relationship between SES and disparities in health outcomes. Selected studies were assessed for methodological quality. Sixteen published studies were retained for inclusion and content analyzed using the constant comparison method. The review indicates that disadvantaged social and socioeconomic conditions contribute to low HL levels, whereby low SES, and particularly educational attainment, is the most important determinant of HL, and that HL mediates the relationship between SES and health status, quality of life, specific health-related outcomes, health behaviors and use of preventive services. HL can be considered as a modifiable risk factor of socioeconomic disparities in health. Enhancing the level of HL in the population or making health services more accessible to people with low HL may be a means to reach a greater equity in health.

Association of Health Literacy and Socioeconomic Status with Oral Health Among Older Adults in Ghana: A Moderation Analysis of Social Capital

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110283
Author(s):  
Padmore Adusei Amoah ◽  
Adwoa Owusuaa Koduah ◽  
Razak M. Gyasi ◽  
Kingsley Atta Nyamekye ◽  
David R. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Oral Health Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship

We examined the moderating role of social capital (SC) in the association of socioeconomic status (SES) and health literacy (HL) with oral health (OH) status and the intentions to use OH services (IUOHS) among older Ghanaians. Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey ( n = 522) and analyzed using ordinal and binary logistic regressions. Bridging SC moderated the relationship between HL and oral health status ( B = 0. 0.117, p < .05) and the association of SES with IUOHS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.144; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.027, 3.599]). Trust modified the association between HL and IUOHS (AOR = 1.051; 95% CI = [1.014, 3.789]). Bonding SC moderated the association between SES and oral health status (B = 0.180, p < .05). However, bonding SC negatively modified the association between SES and IUOHS (AOR = 0.961; 95% CI = [0.727, 0.997]). Cognitive and structural SC modify the associations of SES and HL with OH and IUOHS.

scholarly journals The mediating role of social capital in the relationship between socioeconomic status and adolescent wellbeing: evidence from Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Aboagye Addae
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Health Resource ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Social capital is generally portrayed to be protective of adolescents’ health and wellbeing against the effects of socioeconomic inequalities. However, few empirical evidence exist on this protective role of social capital regarding adolescents’ wellbeing in the low-and middle-income country (LMIC) context. This study examines the potential for social capital to be a protective health resource by investigating whether social capital can mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and wellbeing of Ghanaian adolescents. It also examines how SES and social capital relate to different dimensions of adolescents’ wellbeing in different social contexts. Methods The study employed a cross-sectional survey involving a randomly selected 2068 adolescents (13-18 years) from 15 schools (8 Senior and 7 Junior High Schools) in Ghana. Relationships were assessed using multivariate regression models. Results Three measures of familial social capital (family sense of belonging, family autonomy support, and family control) were found to be important protective factors of both adolescents’ life satisfaction and happiness against the effects of socioeconomic status. One measure of school social capital (school sense of belonging) was found to augment adolescents’ wellbeing but played no mediating role in the SES-wellbeing relationship. A proportion of about 69 and 42% of the total effect of SES on happiness and life satisfaction were mediated by social capital respectively. Moreover, there were variations in how SES and social capital related to the different dimensions of adolescents’ wellbeing. Conclusion Social capital is a significant mechanism through which SES impacts the wellbeing of adolescents. Social capital is a potential protective health resource that can be utilised by public health policy to promote adolescents’ wellbeing irrespective of socioeconomic inequalities. Moreover, the role of the family (home) in promoting adolescents’ wellbeing is superior to that of school which prompts targeted policy interventions. For a holistic assessment of adolescents’ subjective wellbeing, both life evaluations (life satisfaction) and positive emotions (happiness) should be assessed concomitantly.

scholarly journals Digital Health Literacy and Health-Related Well-Being Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Socioeconomic Status Among University Students in Hong Kong and Macao

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110122
Author(s):  
Padmore Adusei Amoah ◽  
Angela Y. M. Leung ◽  
Laurence Lloyd Parial ◽  
Angela Chiu Yin Poon ◽  
Henry Hoi-Yee Tong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
University Students ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Relationship

The current study examined the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES) in the association between digital health literacy (DHL) and psychological well-being of 801 university students in Hong Kong and Macao amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Results showed that DHL and SES were positively associated with psychological well-being. Surprisingly, SES negatively modified the relationship between DHL and psychological well-being. We argue that while attempts are being made to improve the well-being through DHL among students and others alike, a one-size-fits-all approach would not suffice because of diversity in students’ socioeconomic backgrounds.

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