University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies
University students faced significant personal and educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. With health literacy (HL) being an important resource in navigating the pandemic-associated overabundance of information, this study aimed to summarize the current literature on university student...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2445349 |
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| author | Cristina Ciupitu-Plath Brian C. Carrell Ekaterini Papadopoulou |
| author_facet | Cristina Ciupitu-Plath Brian C. Carrell Ekaterini Papadopoulou |
| author_sort | Cristina Ciupitu-Plath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | University students faced significant personal and educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. With health literacy (HL) being an important resource in navigating the pandemic-associated overabundance of information, this study aimed to summarize the current literature on university students’ HL during the pandemic. We searched PubMed, CINAHL Complete, APA PsychINFO, and ERIC for relevant publications. We included studies that focused on college or university students, used standardized HL assessments in community samples, and reported HL data collected between March 2020 and May 2023. Data extraction focused primarily on students’ HL levels and correlates. Although students displayed moderate to high HL, creating written content and evaluating the reliability of online information posed the greatest challenges. HL varied with preferred information sources. Younger age, female gender, low socioeconomic status, and enrollment in an undergraduate or non-health science program were typically associated with lower HL. HL significantly contributed to better health outcomes through improved health behaviors. Based on our findings, university students could benefit from early HL training and support assessing the reliability of information sources and communicating clearly in writing. More research is needed on the HL of students from traditionally marginalized populations and its impact on health outcomes during public health crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed873c87f94e4159a62cdaa7a2a41558 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2331-186X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed873c87f94e4159a62cdaa7a2a415582025-01-03T17:15:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2024.2445349University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studiesCristina Ciupitu-Plath0Brian C. Carrell1Ekaterini Papadopoulou2Department of Public Health, Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA, USADepartment of Public Health, Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA, USALemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Seattle University, WA, USAUniversity students faced significant personal and educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. With health literacy (HL) being an important resource in navigating the pandemic-associated overabundance of information, this study aimed to summarize the current literature on university students’ HL during the pandemic. We searched PubMed, CINAHL Complete, APA PsychINFO, and ERIC for relevant publications. We included studies that focused on college or university students, used standardized HL assessments in community samples, and reported HL data collected between March 2020 and May 2023. Data extraction focused primarily on students’ HL levels and correlates. Although students displayed moderate to high HL, creating written content and evaluating the reliability of online information posed the greatest challenges. HL varied with preferred information sources. Younger age, female gender, low socioeconomic status, and enrollment in an undergraduate or non-health science program were typically associated with lower HL. HL significantly contributed to better health outcomes through improved health behaviors. Based on our findings, university students could benefit from early HL training and support assessing the reliability of information sources and communicating clearly in writing. More research is needed on the HL of students from traditionally marginalized populations and its impact on health outcomes during public health crises.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2445349Health literacyCOVID-19university and college studentsliterature reviewinformation sourcesvulnerable groups |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Ciupitu-Plath Brian C. Carrell Ekaterini Papadopoulou University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies Cogent Education Health literacy COVID-19 university and college students literature review information sources vulnerable groups |
| title | University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies |
| title_full | University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies |
| title_fullStr | University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies |
| title_short | University students’ health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of observational studies |
| title_sort | university students health literacy during the covid 19 pandemic a review of observational studies |
| topic | Health literacy COVID-19 university and college students literature review information sources vulnerable groups |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2445349 |
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