Health Literacy and ''COVID-۱۹ Anxiety'' in Iranian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Covid-۱۹ pandemic has led to a wide range of psychological disorders, including anxiety. Inadequate health literacy is associated with poor mental health. People with higher health literacy are more likely involve preventive behaviors. This study aimed to determine the correlation between health literacy and anxiety caused by covid-۱۹ in adults. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on adults over ۱۸ years old in Jahorm city, Fars province, Iran, in ۲۰۲۱. A total of ۱۹۷ participants were selected using multistage cluster random sampling. Demographic information and two standard questionnaires included Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) was used to collect data. The data was analyzed by SPSS ۱۷.۰ based descriptive statistics,  independent t-tests, and Pearson's correlationResults: The mean raw score of total health literacy was ۱۳۱.۶۲±۰.۳۳, and the mean score converted to ۱۰۰ was ۷۴.۷۲±۱۵.۴۶, which indicates that the health literacy of participating in the study was favorable. The results of Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that with the promotion of health literacy, the anxiety caused by covid-۱۹ (r=-۰.۳۵۱, p<۰.۰۰۱), the psychological (r=-۰.۳۳۹, p<۰.۰۰۱) and physical (r=-۰.۳۲۳, p<۰.۰۰۱) dimensions, significantly decreased and improved. There was also a significant correlation between the reading (r= -۰.۲۰۰, p=۰.۰۰۵), understanding (r=-۰.۲۰۲, p=۰.۰۰۴), appraisal (r=-۰.۲۷۵, p<۰.۰۰۱), and decision (r=-۰.۳۸۳, p<۰.۰۰۱) dimensions with anxiety that caused by covid-۱۹. Conclusion: The community's health literacy level can be an important factor in reducing anxiety caused by health problems such as the Covid-۱۹ pandemic.

Keywords:

Health Literacy , COVID-۱۹ , Anxiety