Abstract

There are 65.7 million informal caregivers in the United States, many of whom are challenged by low-to-marginal health literacy skills and uninformed of health challenges associated with the increased stress of caregiving. A literature review revealed a knowledge gap in the health literacy level of caregivers and the impact health literacy has on the caregiver’s level of stress. Within the framework of the health belief model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study used the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and the Zarit Burden Interview to examine the relationship among health literacy and caregivers’ stress. Utilizing linear regression analysis, the findings revealed a significant relationship between health literacy and the caregivers’ stress level. Utilizing one-way analyses of variance and post-hoc analyses of demographic factors and health literacy and burden of stress, the results demonstrated that participants with some high school education showed significantly lower health literacy levels than those with a college degree. Implications for positive social change for this study highlights the importance of addressing caregiver’s health literacy levels as a strategy to address the burden of stress associated with caregiving.