Adolescent Health Literacy and Its Importance in Promoting Informed Health-Related Decision Making

Abstract

Background: Health development in adolescents is a pivotal period for the development of health-related behaviors. Adolescent health literacy - the capacity to access, comprehends, assess and use health information - is integral to the development of health behaviors. Yet, adolescents often struggle with health information in the digital information age during which there is a major spread of mis- and disinformation. Objective: This paper will review the influence of adolescent health literacy in facilitating health-related decision making and its contribution to health-related outcomes and behaviors. Methodology: This paper presents a narrative review of the existing evidence from scholarly journals, global health reports, and educational frameworks exploring the role of health literacy in adolescent decision making and health outcomes. Findings: The review suggests that adolescents with better health literacy demonstrate better decision making skills, healthier behaviors, less risky behaviors and greater use of health care services. Low health literacy leads to poor decision-making, susceptibility to health misinformation, and negative health outcomes. Conclusion: Building health literacy among adolescents through education at school, consultation with the community and online interventions, is necessary to promote decision making and enhance long term public health.