Relationships Among eHealth Literacy, Physical Literacy, and Physical Activity in Chinese University Students:...

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Digital Health
• Physical Education

Background:

• eHealth literacy is vital for navigating digital health information and promoting healthy lifestyles.
• eHealth literacy positively influences health behaviors like physical activity (PA).
• University students often exhibit declining PA and low physical literacy (PL).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mediating role of PA in the relationship between eHealth literacy and PL among Chinese university students.
• To explore gender-based differences in eHealth literacy, PA, and PL within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1210 Chinese university students.
• Validated instruments included the Perceived PL Instrument, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and eHealth Literacy Scale.
• Statistical analyses involved Pearson correlations, multiple linear regression, and mediation models.

Main Results:

• eHealth literacy directly and significantly impacts PL (β=0.75, P<.001).
• Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) partially mediated the eHealth literacy-PL relationship, accounting for 2.16% of the total effect.
• Male students demonstrated higher MVPA and PL than female students, with no significant gender difference in eHealth literacy.

Conclusions:

• MVPA acts as a partial mediator between eHealth literacy and PL in university students.
• Low eHealth literacy or PA is associated with lower PL.
• Interventions should leverage eHealth literacy to enhance PL and PA, with a focus on targeted support for female students' MVPA and PL.