Investigation of the Effect of Health Literacy on Covid-19 Induced Psychological Distress Levels

Year 2022, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 16 - 33, 01.01.2022

Hamza Sğırcı , Pınar Özer , Mehmet Yorulmaz

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between the level of health literacy and the level of Covid-19-induced psychological distress. The research was conducted as an online survey with 429 respondents aged 18 and older living in Turkey. The research data was obtained using Identifying Questions, the Covid-19 Scale of Psychological Distress and the Health Literacy Scale. Statistical analysis of the data was evaluated by T-Test in Independent Groups, One-Way ANOVA and Pearson Correlation Test. Of the participants in the study, 67.1% are 25 years or under and 75.1% are women. The Covid-19 Psychological Distress Scale horror sub-size score average is 4.09 ± 0.87, while the doubt sub-size average is 3.29 ± 0.98. "The information access sub-dimension score average of the Health Literacy Scale is 4.35 ± 0.74, the information understanding sub-size score average is 4.29 ± 0.64, the valuation/evaluation sub-size score average is 4.22 ± 0.66 and the practice/use sub-size score average is 4.26 ± 0.59. Positive directional, meaningful association between the Covid-19 Psychological Distress Scale and the Health Literacy Scale was found (r = 0.116, p < 0.05). According to this research, as the level of health literacy rises, so does the level of Covid-19-induced psychological distress.

Keywords

Covid-19, Literacy, Epidemic, Psychological Distress, Health Literacy, Pandemic

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