Adults with higher levels of …

Health Behaviors and Knowledge

Adults with more education often practice healthier behaviors than adults with less education. They usually eat better, exercise more, and are less likely to smoke or drink alcohol.^[130] Advanced skills gained through education and health education in schools can play an important role in health literacy or knowledge. Health literacy means being able to find, understand, and use health information and services. This helps people make good choices about their health and handle complex health issues^[131]

Individuals with greater levels of health knowledge, literacy, and skills are also more likely to eat healthy, be active, and not smoke. They’re also less likely to use harmful substances.^[132] When people have low health literacy, the quality of doctor-patient communications might not be as good. People with low health literacy levels are more likely to use emergency rooms and be hospitalized. They are also less likely to use preventive services.^[134] They also tend to rate their own health as lower. Low health literacy can also lead to feeling bad about oneself. This is because of stigma or shame about not understanding health information well.^[138]