eHealth Literacy, Physical Activity Engagement, and Depressive Symptoms in Women With Blindness and Low Vision

Women with blindness and low vision (WWBLV) experience significant health disparities, yet the relationships among eHealth literacy, physical activity engagement, and depressive symptoms in this population remain poorly understood.

This study investigated the relationships among eHealth literacy, physical activity engagement, and depressive symptoms among WWBLV, with particular focus on whether eHealth literacy moderates the relationship between physical activity engagement and depressive symptoms.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1,668 WWBLV across the United States. Participants completed validated measures of eHealth literacy, physical activity engagement, and depressive symptoms. A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate the moderating effect of eHealth literacy on physical activity engagement and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

Significant differences in eHealth literacy, physical activity, and depressive symptoms were found across visual impairment severity groups. Unexpectedly, both moderate low vision and blind groups demonstrated higher eHealth literacy than those with severe low vision. eHealth literacy was positively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = .15, p < .001) and negatively correlated with physical activity engagement (r = -.08, p < .001). A hierarchical multiple linear analysis revealed a significant interaction between eHealth literacy and physical activity (B = -.05, β = -.07, p = .002), indicating that higher eHealth literacy strengthened the protective relationship between physical activity and lower depressive symptoms.

The significant moderating effect of eHealth literacy suggests that integrated approaches addressing both eHealth literacy and physical activity may be particularly effective for improving mental health outcomes in this population.