HEALTH LITERACY LEVEL OF MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS: ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HEALTH PROMOTION BEHAVIORS AND DISEASE PREVENTION PRACTICES

Abstract

The study aims to assess the levels of health literacy, health promotion behaviors, and disease prevention practices among middle-aged adults. It examines the demographic profiles of respondents, as well as their health literacy, health promotion behaviors, and disease prevention practices. The research utilizes a descriptive-correlational design to explore the significant relationships among these variables. Findings indicate that the level of health literacy—particularly in terms of accessing, understanding, and applying health information—is high. Additionally, health promotion behaviors related to physical activity, diet, and the avoidance of health risks are also found to be high. Similarly, practices regarding disease prevention, which encompass vaccination, health screenings, and preventive health measures, are rated "high" by respondents. The study further establishes a positive correlation between health literacy, health promotion behaviors, and disease prevention practices. This suggests that higher health literacy
significantly influences both health promotion behaviors and disease prevention practices. Consequently, the null hypothesis of the study—which posited that there is no significant relationship between health literacy and health promotion behaviors, as well as between health literacy and disease prevention practices among middle-aged adults—is rejected.