2018 Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 15-26
The purpose of this study is to examine the structure of health literacy required for junior high school students in Japan and to investigate its relation to health knowledge and life habits among junior high school students. A total of 159 1st grade junior high school students who were enrolled at a junior high school attached to a national university completed the questionnaire for development of a health literacy scale. Factor analysis revealed five-factor structure (thinking ability on health management, ability to improve life habits, health information literacy, health communication, and assertion). Using the health literacy scale, its relations to scores on health knowledge and life habits were assessed among 460 1st to 3rd grade junior high school students. The results indicated there were weak relationships between health literacy and health knowledge, and between health literacy and life habits. In addition, theoretical problems on health literacy and practical application of this scale to health education were discussed.
