adolescent health literacy
A teenager's capacity to obtain, process, and understand health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.
Full Definition
Adolescent health literacy encompasses the cognitive and social skills that determine the motivation and ability of teenagers to gain access to, understand, and use health information in ways that promote and maintain good health. This includes functional health literacy (basic reading and numeracy skills), interactive health literacy (ability to extract information and derive meaning from different forms of communication), and critical health literacy (ability to critically analyze health information and use it to exercise greater control over health-related decisions). Limited health literacy in adolescents is associated with poorer health outcomes and increased risk behaviors.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from general literacy or educational achievement levels.
In Context
- "Assessment of adolescent health literacy revealed significant gaps in understanding medication labels." — Research study findings
- "Improving adolescent health literacy requires age-appropriate educational materials and teaching methods." — Educational program planning