Health literacy and public health among adolescents and young adults: Opportunities and challenges of a developmental lifecourse approach

Adolescents (ages 10-24 years) represent more than 25% of the population worldwide and they face great health challenges; their health trajectories shaping individual and public health for tomorrow's individuals, families, and communities. Health literacy is beginning to be examined from a lifecourse perspective, yet much of our existing knowledge comes from studies in adults. There is growing interest in health literacy on the cusp of adulthood - among still-developing adolescents. Health literacy in the context of (cognitive) development represents both challenges and opportunities: challenges in defining what health literacy means in a developmental context; challenges in measurement during a time of rapid cognitive and social- emotional growth; and challenges in understanding what types of interventions could be both developmentally appropriate and effective. On the other hand, we have opportunities as well. We can examine how health literacy develops; and use modeling, teachback, and rehearsal while teens are still connected to parents, clinicians and education systems. We can develop and test interventions that can prepare young people to self-manage their health, navigate our complex health system, navigate their own decisions about health and risk behaviors, and ideally improve their health-related skills, experiences, and health outcomes throughout the lifecourse. This paper presents a state-of-the art review of health literacy among 10-24 year-old adolescents and young adults in the context of medicine and public health, and will highlight the distinct challenges and opportunities of considering health literacy in a developmental lifecourse context.