The Associations between Health Literacy and Self-Rated Health: The MediatingRole of Life Style Using the Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Background: Self-Rated Health is related to reduction of burden of diseases and health outcomes. Variousfactors affect Self-Rated Health. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of lifestyle in therelationship between health literacy and Self-Rated Health .Methods: In this cross-sectional study ۴۹۵ people aged ۱۸- ۶۵ were participated in ۲۰۲۳. Health literacyquestionnaire by Montazeri et al., healthy lifestyle assessment questionnaire of Eshaghi et al, and Self-ratedhealth (SRH) by a question developed by the World Health Organization were used. Structural equationmodeling (SEM) was used. Statistical analysis of data was performed using STATA ۱۴.۲ software .Results: Based on the results, a significant total effect of health literacy on self-rated health (β= -۰.۰۰۵, P=۰.۰۰۱), was identified. Life style (β = -۰.۰۰۴) had a direct effect on self-rated health (p < ۰.۰۰۵). The resultfrom SEM indicated that health literacy exhibited a direct effect on life style (β = ۷۸). In addition, consideringthat health literacy and lifestyle have a significant relationship with self-rated health, and there is a significantrelationship between lifestyle and health literacy, it can be concluded that lifestyle plays a mediating role inthe relationship between the two variables of health literacy and self-rated health .Conclusion: Considering the mediating role of lifestyle in the relationship between health literacy and selfratedhealth, to improve self-rated health, in addition to paying attention to the role of health literacy, it isnecessary to take effective measures to positively change people's lifestyle .

Keywords:

health literacy" , "self-rated health" , "life style" , "structural equation modeling