April 29, 2024

New Study Links Poor Literacy to Worse Mental Health

Poor psychological health can lead to a variety of issues, consisting of anxiety, depression, compound abuse, and other physical health issues.
People with lower literacy had higher psychological health problems such as anxiety and anxiety. We cant say for sure that bad literacy triggers poor mental health, however there is a strong association. There might be multiple elements affecting psychological health which also impact literacy– such as poverty or living in an area with a history of conflict.

Psychological health is vital for our total well-being and quality of life. It impacts how we believe, feel, and act in everyday circumstances, and it can affect our relationships, work, and personal fulfillment. Poor mental health can lead to a range of problems, consisting of anxiety, anxiety, substance abuse, and other physical health problems.
New research from the University of East Anglia exposes that people with low literacy abilities are most likely to experience mental illness worldwide. The study, published today, is the first to provide a worldwide perspective on the connection in between literacy and psychological health.
According to the research study, roughly 14% of the global population does not have fundamental literacy abilities, and this group is at a higher threat of experiencing psychological health issue such as stress and anxiety, anxiety, and loneliness.
The team, from UEAs Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies (CPPT), says their findings disproportionately affect females, who account for two-thirds of the worlds illiterate.

Dr. Bonnie Teague from UEAs Norwich Medical School, said: “Despite rising literacy rates over the past 50 years, there are still an approximated 773 million grownups internationally who cant write or read. Literacy rates are lower in establishing nations and those with a history of conflict, and women are disproportionately impacted.”
We also understand that lower literacy is related to poorer health, persistent illness, and shorter life span. There has been some research taking a look at the possible association between literacy and psychological health however this is the first study looking at the concern on a global scale.”
The group examined data from 19 research studies that measured both literacy and mental health. These research studies happened across 9 various countries (USA, China, Nepal, Thailand, Iran, India, Ghana, Pakistan, and Brazil) and included almost 2 million individuals.
Dr. Lucy Hunn completed this methodical review as part of her Doctorate in clinical psychology training at UEA. She said: “We used info associating with psychological health and literacy to assess the global reported relationship in between these two elements.
” What we discovered is a substantial association between literacy and psychological health outcomes across several nations. People with lower literacy had greater mental health troubles such as stress and anxiety and anxiety. We cant state for sure that bad literacy causes poor mental health, however there is a strong association. There might be numerous factors impacting psychological health which likewise affect literacy– such as poverty or living in a location with a history of dispute. What the information does program is that even in these places, you still see even worse psychological health for those without literacy skills. This work highlights the value of mental health services understanding and supporting literacy,” she included.
Reference: “Literacy and psychological health across the world: a systematic review” by Lucy Hunn, Bonnie Teague and Paul Fisher, 2 February 2023, Mental Health and Social Inclusion.DOI: 10.1108/ MHSI-09-2022-0064.