Effects of Health Literacy and Social Capital on Health Information Behavior

J Health Commun. 2015;20(9):1084-94. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2015.1018636. Epub 2015 Jul 11.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine whether social capital (bonding and bridging social capital) attenuate the effect of low functional health literacy on health information resources, efficacy, and behaviors. In-person interviews were conducted with 1,000 residents in Seoul, Korea, in 2011. The authors found that respondents' functional health literacy had positive effects on the scope of health information sources and health information self-efficacy but not health information-seeking intention. Respondents' social capital had positive effects on the scope of health information sources, health information efficacy, and health information-seeking intention. The authors found (a) a significant moderation effect of bridging social capital on the relation between health literacy and health information self-efficacy and (b) a moderation effect of bonding social capital on the relation between health literacy and health information-seeking intention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Consumer Health Information / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Literacy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Information Seeking Behavior*
  • Intention
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Qualitative Research
  • Self Efficacy
  • Seoul
  • Social Capital*
  • Young Adult