Health literacy and mental well-being of school staff in times of crisis: A path analysis of sense of coherence, work-related stress, and health-protective behaviours

Padmore Adusei AMOAH; Angela Y.M. LEUNG; Joshua OKYERE; Sam S.S. LAU; Kevin DADACZYNSKI; Orkan OAKN

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105749

Health literacy and mental well-being of school staff in times of crisis: A path analysis of sense of coherence, work-related stress, and health-protective behaviours

Padmore Adusei AMOAH^*
, Angela Y.M. LEUNG
, Joshua OKYERE
, Sam S.S. LAU
, Kevin DADACZYNSKI
, Orkan OAKN

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives
This paper examines the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being of school staff during distressful times. It examines the mediating roles of work-related stress, health-protective behaviours (i.e., attitudes about vaccination), and sense of coherence in the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being.

Study design
A cross-sectional survey.

Methods
Data were derived from 440 school staff who participated in a study on Health Literacy and Well-being of School Staff across all schools in Hong Kong. Structural Equation Modelling was used for path analysis.

Results
Most (64.9 %) of the school staff had limited health literacy (i.e. problematic or inadequate). The mean score of their mental well-being was 51.4 out of 100 (±20.8), with around 18 % of them at risk of depression. Health literacy was not directly associated with mental well-being. Instead, it predicted mental well-being through work-related stress (B = 0.130, p = 0.036) and adoption of health-protective behaviours (B = 0.376, p = 0.021).

Conclusion
While health literacy may not directly influence the mental well-being of school staff, it has a critical role in safeguarding mental well-being in times of distress by shaping positive attitudes towards protective health measures and managing sources of work stress.

Original language	English
Article number	105749
Journal	Public Health
Volume	245
Early online date	22 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105749
Publication status	Published - Aug 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

Funding

The work was supported through the Research Collaboration and Development Fund of Lingnan University, Hong Kong (CF21A2). It also received support through the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. UGC/IDS(R) 23/20). The funding bodies had no influence on the content of the paper and the publication process.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

School staff
Health literacy
Sense of coherence
Health Behaviours
Mental well-being
Hong Kong

Access to Document

10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105749Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0033350625001957

Cite this

@article{ec1065c05c5e4a9abcb4a0076d3caaee,

title = "Health literacy and mental well-being of school staff in times of crisis: A path analysis of sense of coherence, work-related stress, and health-protective behaviours",

abstract = "Objectives This paper examines the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being of school staff during distressful times. It examines the mediating roles of work-related stress, health-protective behaviours (i.e., attitudes about vaccination), and sense of coherence in the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being. Study design A cross-sectional survey. Methods Data were derived from 440 school staff who participated in a study on Health Literacy and Well-being of School Staff across all schools in Hong Kong. Structural Equation Modelling was used for path analysis. Results Most (64.9 \%) of the school staff had limited health literacy (i.e. problematic or inadequate). The mean score of their mental well-being was 51.4 out of 100 (±20.8), with around 18 \% of them at risk of depression. Health literacy was not directly associated with mental well-being. Instead, it predicted mental well-being through work-related stress (B = 0.130, p = 0.036) and adoption of health-protective behaviours (B = 0.376, p = 0.021). Conclusion While health literacy may not directly influence the mental well-being of school staff, it has a critical role in safeguarding mental well-being in times of distress by shaping positive attitudes towards protective health measures and managing sources of work stress.",

keywords = "School staff, Health literacy, Sense of coherence, Health Behaviours, Mental well-being, Hong Kong",

author = "AMOAH, \{Padmore Adusei\} and LEUNG, \{Angela Y.M.\} and Joshua OKYERE and LAU, \{Sam S.S.\} and Kevin DADACZYNSKI and Orkan OAKN",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",

year = "2025",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105749",

language = "English",

volume = "245",

journal = "Public Health",

issn = "0033-3506",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health literacy and mental well-being of school staff in times of crisis: A path analysis of sense of coherence, work-related stress, and health-protective behaviours

AU - AMOAH, Padmore Adusei

AU - LEUNG, Angela Y.M.

AU - OKYERE, Joshua

AU - LAU, Sam S.S.

AU - DADACZYNSKI, Kevin

AU - OAKN, Orkan

PY - 2025/8

Y1 - 2025/8

N2 - Objectives This paper examines the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being of school staff during distressful times. It examines the mediating roles of work-related stress, health-protective behaviours (i.e., attitudes about vaccination), and sense of coherence in the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being. Study design A cross-sectional survey. Methods Data were derived from 440 school staff who participated in a study on Health Literacy and Well-being of School Staff across all schools in Hong Kong. Structural Equation Modelling was used for path analysis. Results Most (64.9 %) of the school staff had limited health literacy (i.e. problematic or inadequate). The mean score of their mental well-being was 51.4 out of 100 (±20.8), with around 18 % of them at risk of depression. Health literacy was not directly associated with mental well-being. Instead, it predicted mental well-being through work-related stress (B = 0.130, p = 0.036) and adoption of health-protective behaviours (B = 0.376, p = 0.021). Conclusion While health literacy may not directly influence the mental well-being of school staff, it has a critical role in safeguarding mental well-being in times of distress by shaping positive attitudes towards protective health measures and managing sources of work stress.

AB - Objectives This paper examines the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being of school staff during distressful times. It examines the mediating roles of work-related stress, health-protective behaviours (i.e., attitudes about vaccination), and sense of coherence in the relationship between health literacy and mental well-being. Study design A cross-sectional survey. Methods Data were derived from 440 school staff who participated in a study on Health Literacy and Well-being of School Staff across all schools in Hong Kong. Structural Equation Modelling was used for path analysis. Results Most (64.9 %) of the school staff had limited health literacy (i.e. problematic or inadequate). The mean score of their mental well-being was 51.4 out of 100 (±20.8), with around 18 % of them at risk of depression. Health literacy was not directly associated with mental well-being. Instead, it predicted mental well-being through work-related stress (B = 0.130, p = 0.036) and adoption of health-protective behaviours (B = 0.376, p = 0.021). Conclusion While health literacy may not directly influence the mental well-being of school staff, it has a critical role in safeguarding mental well-being in times of distress by shaping positive attitudes towards protective health measures and managing sources of work stress.

KW - School staff

KW - Health literacy

KW - Sense of coherence

KW - Health Behaviours

KW - Mental well-being

KW - Hong Kong

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005512293

U2 - 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105749

DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105749

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

C2 - 40408935

SN - 0033-3506

VL - 245

JO - Public Health

JF - Public Health

M1 - 105749

ER -

Health literacy and mental well-being of school staff in times of crisis: A path analysis of sense of coherence, work-related stress, and health-protective behaviours

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

A study on the well-being and health literacy of school principals, management teams and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cite this

Health literacy and mental well-being of school staff in times of crisis: A path analysis of sense of coherence, work-related stress, and health-protective behaviours

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

A study on the well-being and health literacy of school principals, management teams and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cite this