The effect of health literacy on health anxiety among young women.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy (HL) and health anxiety (HA) among young women and to evaluate how variations in HL influence anxiety and related health outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 245 women aged 18-45 years attending the Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital Training and Research Family Health Center. The questionnaire included 13 sociodemographic items, the 14-item Health Literacy Scale, and the 18-item Health Anxiety Inventory. Higher scores reflected higher levels of literacy or anxiety. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Of 245 participants, 66.8% were married and 61.2% had children. Higher education was associated with higher HL, whereas lower education, obesity, chronic disease, and regular medication use were associated with lower literacy scores (p < 0.05). HA was negatively correlated with the level of education and HL but positively correlated with the number of doctor visits.

Conclusions: HL increases with the level of education, while HA decreases. Enhancing HL in primary care settings may help reduce health-related anxiety and unnecessary healthcare use among young women.