HEALTH EDUCATION FOR GENERATION Z (CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN DEVELOPING HEALTH LITERACY IN THE 21”ST CENTURY): A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Authors

  • Bayu Kusumo Philipphines Women’s University, Philipphines
  • Shirley A. Padua Philipphines Women’s University, Philipphines
  • Alvin S Sicat Philipphines Women’s University, Philipphines
  • Askrening Askrening Philipphines Women’s University, Philipphines
  • Purnamawati Purnamawati Philipphines Women’s University, Philipphines
  • Rossa Ramadhona Philipphines Women’s University, Philipphines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61402/sajmr.v3i3.382

Keywords:

Health education, generation Z, health literacy, 21st century, digital technology, challenges, opportunities

Abstract

Health education is becoming increasingly important for generation Z in the 21st century, because they are growing up in an era full of digital information flow.  Health literacy, or the ability to obtain, understand, and use health information, is a key factor in determining their well-being.  Generation Z, which is the first generation to grow up with digital technology from birth, faces special challenges in. developing health literacy, such as information overload, the spread of misinformation (hoaxes), and unequal access to health resources.  However, technology also offers great opportunities to improve health literacy through digital platforms, health apps, social media and online learning.  This article summarizes the results of 15 international journals which highlight the challenges and opportunities of health education for generation Z in developing health literacy in the 21st century.  By leveraging tailored educational strategies, digital technology, and active participation from students, this generation is facing the complex health challenges of the future.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adamu Amanu; Birhanu, Zewdie; Godesso, Ameyu. (2023) Sexual and reproductive health literacy among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence synthesis and implications. Global Health Action; Abingdon Vol. 16, Iss. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/sexual-reproductive-health-literacy-among-young/docview/2915453481/se-2

Arias López, M. del P., Ong, B. A., Borrat Frigola, X., Fernández, A. L., Hicklent, R. S., Obeles, A. J. T., Rocimo, A. M., & Celi, L. A. (2021). Digital literacy as a new determinant of health: A scoping review. PLOS ONE, 16(3)https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000279

Beyari, H. (2021). The relationship between social media and the increase in mental health problems. Department of Administrative and Financial Sciences, Applied College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. ; http://hmbeyariiuqu.edu.sa

Dadaczynski, K., Okan, O., Messer, M., Leung, A. Y. M., Rosario, R., Darlington, E., & Rathmann, K. (2022). Predicting and empowering health for Generation Z by comparing health information seeking and digital health literacy: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(5), e28200.https://doi.org/10.2196/28200

Guo, S., Yu, X., Davis, E., Armstrong, R., Riggs, E., & Naccarella, L. (2020). Adolescent health literacy in Beijing and Melbourne: A cross-cultural comparison. Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne; Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, Peking University; Intergenerational Health Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041242

Heo, M.-L., & Jang, Y.-M. (2023). Implications for health management through an analysis of changes in life patterns of Generation Z college students experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 1661–1670. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/JMDH.S415120

Levin-Zamir, D., & Bertschi, I. (2018). Media health literacy, eHealth literacy, and the role of the social environment in context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8) https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/8/1643

Mat Zain, N. H., Johari, S. N., Abdul Aziz, S. R., Ibrahim Teo, N. H., Ishak, N. H., & Othman, Z. (2020). Winning the needs of the Gen Z: Gamified health awareness campaign in defeating COVID-19 pandemic. Procedia Computer Science, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050921001198

Paakkari, L., & Okan, O. (2020). Health literacy—Talking the language of (school) education. Health Literacy Research and Practice, https://doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20190502-01

Palumbo, R.,dkk. (2021). Addressing health literacy in the digital domain: insights from a literature rewiew. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/K-07-2021-0547/full/html

Papp-Zipernovszky, O., Horváth, M. D., Schulz, P. J., & Csabai, M. (2021). Generation gaps in digital health literacy and their impact on health information seeking behavior and health empowerment in Hungary. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, Article 635943. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.635943/full

Smith, J., & Kovacs, A. (2022). Generational gaps in digital health literacy and their impact on health information seeking behavior and health empowerment in Hungary. Frontiers in Public Health, 10(2), 123-134. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.635943/full

Spencer, M.,dkk. (2021). An International Review to Characterize the Role, Rezponsibilities, and Optimal Setting for Health Literacy Mediators. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34212070/

Wahyuni, R., Amalia, R., Supriatin, Kurniasih, U., Treasa, A. D., Reffita, L. I., & Ambarwati, E. R. (2024). Health promotion on the behavior of women of childbearing age in early detection examinations for cervical cancer at Makassar City Health Centers. International Journal of Health Sciences (IJHS), 2(3). https://jurnal.agdosi.com/index.php/IJHS/article/download/161/140

Wahyuni, R., Amalia, R., Supriatin, Kurniasih, U., Treasa, A. D., Reffita, L. I., & Ambarwati, E. R. (2024). Health promotion on the behavior of women of childbearing age in early detection examinations for cervical cancer at Makassar City Health Centers. International Journal of Health Sciences (IJHS), 2(3). https://jurnal.agdosi.com/index.php/IJHS/article/download/161/140

Downloads

Published

2025-05-22

How to Cite

Bayu Kusumo, Shirley A. Padua, Alvin S Sicat, Askrening Askrening, Purnamawati Purnamawati, & Rossa Ramadhona. (2025). HEALTH EDUCATION FOR GENERATION Z (CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN DEVELOPING HEALTH LITERACY IN THE 21”ST CENTURY): A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. SAJMR : Southeast Asian Journal of Management and Research, 3(3), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.61402/sajmr.v3i3.382

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): Agust

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 SAJMR : Southeast Asian Journal of Management and Research

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)