Volume 22, Issue 2 (7-2026)
J Health Syst Res 2026, 22(2): 277-285 |
Back to browse issues page
Research code: 724135325
Ethics code: IR.MUBABOL.REC.1402.144
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Nazmi S, Behmanesh F, Habibnejad-Roshan F, Nikbakht H. Health Anxiety among Medical University Students: A Regression Analysis of Health Literacy and Socio-Demographic Factors. J Health Syst Res 2026; 22 (2) :277-285
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1940-en.html
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1940-en.html
1- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
2- Associate Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
3- Student Research Committee AND Nasibeh School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
2- Associate Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
3- Student Research Committee AND Nasibeh School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Abstract: (24 Views)
Background: Lower health literacy is associated with increased anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate health anxiety among students at Babol University of Medical Sciences and to examine its relationship with health literacy and socio-demographic factors.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 321 newly enrolled students were randomly selected. Data were collected using questionnaires covering demographic information, health anxiety, and health literacy. Analysis was performed using SPSS, employing ANOVA, independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. The significance level of the tests was set at 0.05.
Findings: The study included 141 male students (43.9%) and 180 female students (56.1%), with a mean health anxiety score of 13.60 ± 5.36 and a mean health literacy score of 147.20 ± 24.87. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between health literacy and health anxiety (P < 0.001). Additionally, health literacy was negatively correlated with disease-related concerns and the adverse consequences associated with health anxiety (P < 0.001). While the general health concern dimension was not significant in the univariate analysis, multivariate analysis revealed that a one-unit increase in health literacy corresponded to a 0.01-unit increase in the overall health concern score (P = 0.031).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that higher health literacy is associated with lower health anxiety. Although some differences were observed by gender and field of study in the univariate analysis, these associations were not significant in the multivariate model. Therefore, the most important factor related to health anxiety among students was their level of health literacy. It appears that improving health literacy through educational programs may help reduce health anxiety and enhance the psychological well-being of students.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 321 newly enrolled students were randomly selected. Data were collected using questionnaires covering demographic information, health anxiety, and health literacy. Analysis was performed using SPSS, employing ANOVA, independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. The significance level of the tests was set at 0.05.
Findings: The study included 141 male students (43.9%) and 180 female students (56.1%), with a mean health anxiety score of 13.60 ± 5.36 and a mean health literacy score of 147.20 ± 24.87. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between health literacy and health anxiety (P < 0.001). Additionally, health literacy was negatively correlated with disease-related concerns and the adverse consequences associated with health anxiety (P < 0.001). While the general health concern dimension was not significant in the univariate analysis, multivariate analysis revealed that a one-unit increase in health literacy corresponded to a 0.01-unit increase in the overall health concern score (P = 0.031).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that higher health literacy is associated with lower health anxiety. Although some differences were observed by gender and field of study in the univariate analysis, these associations were not significant in the multivariate model. Therefore, the most important factor related to health anxiety among students was their level of health literacy. It appears that improving health literacy through educational programs may help reduce health anxiety and enhance the psychological well-being of students.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
education health and promotion
Received: 2024/12/14 | Accepted: 2025/09/14 | Published: 2026/06/22
Received: 2024/12/14 | Accepted: 2025/09/14 | Published: 2026/06/22
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
