ArticleBMC medical education2026
Correlation between health literacy and risk-taking behaviors among medical university students.
Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundHealth literacy (HL) is a pivotal educational competency and a critical life skill that empowers individuals to make informed health decisions. Given the susceptibility of medical sciences students to various psychosocial stressors, elucidating the link between their HL capacities and behavioral choices is essential. This study aimed to investigate the association between health literacy and engagement in high-risk behaviors among students at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences.
methodsThis descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 among 306 students selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) questionnaires. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. Model assumptions were verified, and the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) was assessed to ensure the absence of multicollinearity.
resultsThe mean scores for health literacy and high-risk behaviors were 132.96 ± 14.40 and 96.17 ± 10.74, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was observed between health literacy and high-risk behaviors (r=-.289, p<.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that after controlling for demographic variables, health literacy was a significant inverse predictor of high-risk behaviors (β=-.334, p<.001), accounting for 12.5% of the variance (R
conclusionHigher health literacy is significantly associated with a reduction in high-risk behaviors among medical students. Specifically, the ability to effectively access and navigate health resources emerges as the most critical predictor of this association. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating functional health literacy training-focusing on information access and critical appraisal-into medical curricula to support student well-being and professional competency.
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