Health literacy and social support are key determinants of recurrence risk perception among stroke patients, while coping styles did not mediate this relationship.
Health literacy was positively correlated with recurrence risk perception among stroke patients.
Health literacy was positively correlated with social support among stroke patients.
Health literacy was a significant positive predictor of recurrence risk perception in multivariable regression analysis.
Social support was a significant positive predictor of recurrence risk perception in multivariable regression analysis.
Age was negatively associated with recurrence risk perception, while education level was positively associated.
Coping styles did not significantly mediate the relationship between health literacy and recurrence risk perception.
This research examined whether stroke patients who understand health information better are also better at perceiving their own risk of having another stroke. Researchers surveyed 200 young and middle-aged stroke patients from three large hospitals in Chengdu, China, measuring their health literacy (ability to understand and use health information), their awareness of stroke recurrence risk, their level of social support, and how they cope with illness. The study found that patients with higher health literacy and stronger social support networks had a more accurate or greater awareness of their risk of stroke recurrence. Older patients tended to have lower risk perception, while more educated patients tended to have higher risk perception. The researchers also tested whether the way patients cope with their illness (e.g., facing it directly, avoiding it, or seeking distraction) explained the link between health literacy and risk perception. They found that coping styles did not play this intermediary role — the connection between health literacy and risk perception appeared to be more direct. Together, health literacy, social support, age, and education accounted for about one-third (32.6%) of the differences in risk perception seen among patients. This research suggests that helping stroke patients improve their health literacy and strengthening their social support systems could be important strategies in community-based stroke care programs aimed at helping patients better understand and respond to their risk of having another stroke. The authors note that because this was a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), future longitudinal research is needed to better understand how these factors influence risk perception over time and what mechanisms are involved.
Yuan L, Zhao Y, He C, Wang Y, Jiang X, Tian Y, et al.. (2026). Health literacy and recurrence risk perception among stroke patients: insights from a cognitive resource perspective.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1868971