A Study on the Relationship between Quality of Life and Health Literacy among Students

Background and Objectives: Quality of life reflects the health of individuals, physically and mentally. Health literacy is one of the factors that can be related to quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between quality of life and health literacy among students of Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 357 university students in 2020-2021. Data were collected using the standardized Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) and the SF-36 scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Results: The mean score of total QOL in university students was 70.88 ±15.73; among the eight dimensions of SF-36, the highest and the lowest scores were seen in physical functioning with 87.24 ±16.42, and role limitations due to emotional problems with 57.23 ±40.55. There was a positive significant relationship between the total mean score of HELIA and the general health dimension of SF-36. There was a positive significant relationship between reading, understanding, and appraisal dimension of HELIA with a mean score of general health dimension of SF-36. There was a positive significant relationship between understanding, and appraisal dimension of HELIA with mean score of mental health dimension of SF-36. There was a positive significant relationship between the understanding dimension of HELIA with mean score of physical health component score, and total mean score of SF-36. Also, there was a positive significant relationship between appraisal dimension of HELIA and mean score of physical health component score, mental health component score, vitality and total mean score of SF-36. Conclusions: The study shows an association between health literacy and quality of life in medical university students. However, this association is not strong.