Aims: This study aimed to investigate the role of electronic health literacy in the adoption of health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among students at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran.
Instrument & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 376 students were selected in 2023-2024 using proportionate stratified sampling. Participants completed a demographic characteristics checklist, the Electronic Health Literacy Scale, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22, employing independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.
Findings: Of the 376 participants, 79.78% were under 22 years of age. The mean total health-promoting lifestyle behavior and electronic health literacy scores were 127.50±18.80 and 25.04±5.63, respectively. The highest scores among the health-promoting lifestyle behavior dimensions were observed in spiritual growth and self-actualization, while the lowest was in physical activity. A significant relationship was found between electronic health literacy and students’ health-promoting lifestyle behavior. Age, gender, economic status, place of residence, and electronic health literacy together explained 32% of the variance in nutrition (R²=0.235), 26% in interpersonal relationships (R²=0.261), 20% in spiritual growth (R²=0.202), 18% in health responsibility (R²=0.183), 16% in stress management (R²=0.162), and 11% in physical activity (R²=0.115).
Conclusion: Students have moderate mean lifestyle scores on both the Electronic Health Literacy Scale and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors.