Investigating the Relationship Between Health Literacy and Health-Promoting Behaviors: A Cross-sectional Study Among the Iranian Elderly Population

Background: Statistics predict an explosive rising figure in the elderly population in Iran. Therefore, it is considered a major health-related challenge in the coming decades. The purpose of the present study was to detect the relationships between health literacy and health-promoting behaviors among Iranian elderly people. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among ۴۰۲ Iranian elderly in ۲۰۲۰, who were enrolled using a convenience sampling method. The subjects’ health literacy and health-promoting behavior were separately measured with standard instruments. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis (P<۰.۰۵). Results: Most respondents were female (۵۶.۲۲%, n=۲۲۶). The means±standard deviations of total health literacy and health-promoting behaviors were ۶۰.۱۴±۱۵.۴۵ and ۱۱۵.۴±۱۴.۰۷, respectively. There was a positive significant relationship between health literacy and health-promoting behavior (r=۰.۵۳, P<۰.۰۰۱). Responsibility toward health had the highest correlation with health literacy (r=۰.۶۰, P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: According to these findings, it is necessary to increase and maintain health literacy at high levels to improve health behavior among the Iranian elderly.