Health literacy and awareness of healthy living among university students: A cross-sectional and correlational study.

OBJECTIVE: The study is to determine university students' health literacy and awareness of healthy living, as well as the relationship between these two concepts. METHOD: The sample for this cross-sectional, correlational study consisted of 961 students at a university. Data were collected using the Demographic Information Form, the Health Literacy Scale-Short Form, and the Healthy Living Awareness Scale. RESULTS: The mean total score on health literacy was 34.61 ± 7.49, and the mean total score on healthy living awareness was 57.74 ± 7.98. It was determined that place of residence, grade level, living arrangements while attending university, income status, mother's education, and body mass index significantly influenced the mean health literacy score (p<0.05). It was found that sex, the faculty and class in which the student is enrolled, and the type of housing while attending university significantly influenced the mean total score for healthy living awareness (p<0.05). There is a positive, moderate correlation between health literacy and healthy living awareness (r = 0.492, p = 0.000). In addition, a one-unit increase in health literacy is associated with a 0.524-unit increase in awareness of healthy living (R = 0492, R² = 0242, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that certain demographic characteristics of university students influence health literacy and awareness of healthy living, and that there is a relationship between health literacy and awareness of healthy living.