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Health Literacy and Health Information-Seeking Behavior: Age-Related Patterns in a Korean Population
ABSTRACT
Background:
Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) is a critical determinant of personal health management and outcomes. Health literacy (HL) influences individuals’ likelihood and manner of seeking health information, but its role across different age groups remains underexplored, particularly in nationally representative populations.
Objective:
This study examines how health literacy impacts health information-seeking behavior across adult age groups in Korea, investigating the prevalence of HISB and the type of information-seeking (active vs. passive) according to age.
Methods:
Using cross-sectional data from the 2020–2021 Korea Health Panel and the 2021 HL Supplementary Survey (n=7,910), health literacy was measured with the HLS-EU-Q16 instrument. Based on top-ranked information sources, HISB within the past 12 months was classified as active or passive. Logistic regression analyses assessed HL and HISB presence and type associations, adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and behavioral covariates, stratified by age groups (19–44, 45–64, 65+ years).
Results:
Mean HL scores declined with age (14.10 in ages 19–44 vs. 8.34 in 65+). HISB prevalence was highest in the youngest group (66.7%) and lowest in the oldest group (30.2%). Active seeking dominated among younger adults (92.7%) but was less common in older adults (48.2%). Higher HL was significantly associated with increased odds of HISB (OR = 1.139, p < 0.001) and active seeking (OR = 1.105, p < 0.001) overall. Age-stratified analyses revealed that HL significantly predicted HISB and active seeking primarily in adults aged 45 and older, while education level was more influential among younger adults.
Conclusions:
HL plays a vital role in promoting active HISB among middle-aged and older adults, whereas younger adults’ information-seeking is more influenced by education and perceived health needs. Tailored strategies enhancing digital and community HL are essential to address age-specific barriers and improve equitable health information engagement across generations.
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Copyright
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