Is Health Literacy Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Adults? Implications for Mental Health Nursing

摘要

OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether health literacy is associated with depressive symptoms among Korean adults, when adjusting for relevant risk factors for depression. METHODS Data were collected from a sample of 585 community‐dwelling Korean adults living in Seoul and Kwangju, South Korea, using a quota sampling strategy. A cross‐sectional, multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the association between health literacy and depressive symptoms. RESULTS When controlled for covariates, a lower level of health literacy was significantly associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION Health literacy may play an important role in preventing and treating depression. Future research is needed to determine if improving health literacy, through health promotion interventions, can enhance community‐dwelling Korean adults’ understanding of depressive symptoms and relevant treatment options.