Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41617731›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Exploring the factors associated with health literacy among adolescents in Hong Kong.

Claire Chenwen Zhong, Mingtao Chen, Zehuan Yang, Zhaojun Li, Vera M W Keung, Amelia Lo, Calvin Cheung, Junjie Huang, Martin C S Wong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Claire Chenwen ZhongThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Mingtao ChenThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Zehuan YangThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Zhaojun LiThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Vera M W KeungThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Amelia LoThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Calvin CheungThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Junjie HuangThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China. junjiehuang@cuhk.edu.hk.
Martin C S WongThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China. wong_martin@cuhk.edu.hk.

Funding

Quality Education Fund 2022/0452
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Health literacy is crucial for promoting healthy behaviors and is linked to improved health outcomes among adolescents, yet global levels remain suboptimal. In Hong Kong, where rising rates of obesity and related health issues among adolescents are of increasing concern, understanding health literacy in this population is essential. However, current interventions of health literacy face challenges in effectively addressing the differences between the target groups. Therefore, this study aims to investigate factors associated with health literacy among adolescents in Hong Kong, to provide evidence for identifying groups for intervention implementation. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Hong Kong. Secondary school students from grades 1 to 4 in Hong Kong were recruited to complete a 98-item survey measuring socio-demographic information, socioeconomic status (SES), health behaviors, mental toughness, and health literacy. Group differences were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models examined factors associated with adolescent health literacy. A total of 1423 adolescents were included in this study. The mean health literacy score was 57.24 (SD = 17.04) in the adolescents. Multivariable regression showed that aged over 14 years (β = 3.79), medium SES (β = 2.91), high SES (β = 4.80), adequate vegetable intake (β = 0.041), adequate fruit intake (β = 3.13), and mental toughness (β = 10.69) were positively related to overall health literacy. Smoking (β = - 7.38), alcohol drinking (β = - 4.03), excessive electronic game screen time (β = - 2.06), and male gender (β = - 3.86) were negatively associated with overall health literacy. Mental toughness (β = 4.27-12.43) showed a strong positive association across all health literacy sub-domains. This study identified high-risk groups with regard to health literacy among adolescents, including younger individuals, males, those with lower socioeconomic status, poor dietary habits, lower levels of mental toughness, and those engaging in risky behaviors. Future policies and interventions should specifically target these groups to optimize the effectiveness of subsequent initiatives.

Indexed as

Health LiteracyAdolescentAdolescent BehaviorCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth BehaviorHong KongHumansMaleSocial ClassSocioeconomic FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesAdolescentsHealth LiteracyHong KongPsychosocial factorsPublic Health

Identifiers

PMID41617731
PMCPMC12864948

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.