Effect of Digital Health Literacy on Subjective Health Status: The Mediating Role of Health Management Confidence

Abstract

Background: Digital health literacy refers to the ability to understand and utilize health information through digital media. This study analyzes whether the ability to understand and utilize digital health information affects health status and whether this relationship is mediated by self-efficacy in health management. Methods: The study used microdata from the 2021 Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs survey on "Digital Health Accessibility and Personal Competency Factors." A total of 936 participants aged 20 to 69 were analyzed through multiple regression analysis and mediation analysis. The independent variable was digital health literacy, the mediator was self-efficacy in health management, and the dependent variable was subjective health status. Results: For every 1-point increase in digital health literacy, subjective health status increased by 0.022 points and self-efficacy in health management increased by 0.108 points (p<0.0001). The indirect effect of digital health literacy on subjective health status through self-efficacy in health management was 0.019 points, with 48.62% of the total effect explained by the mediation effect. Conclusion: Digital health literacy can directly or indirectly affect subjective health status through self-efficacy in health management. This study provides the first domestic evidence that digital health literacy can influence subjective health status through self-efficacy in health management.