Does Literacy Education Improve Symptoms of Depression and Self-efficacy in Individuals with Low Literacy and Depressive Symptoms? A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Individuals with low literacy and symptoms of depression have greater improvement of depression symptoms when their treatment includes education to enhance literacy skills. The reason why literacy enhancement helps depression symptoms is unknown, but we hypothesize that it might be due to improved self-efficacy. We studied whether providing literacy education to individuals with both depression symptoms and limited literacy might improve their self-efficacy.Methods: We studied 39 individuals enrolled in an adult literacy program and who, on further testing with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) had symptoms of depression. While they participated in the literacy program, we monitored their self-efficacy using the General Self Efficacy (GSE) scale, and also monitored the severity of depression symptoms with the PHQ-9. Changes in GSE and PHQ-9 scores from baseline were assessed with the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test.Results: Thirty-one (79.5%) subjects participated for 1 year. There was a significant increase in their self-efficacy (P ‫؍‬ .019) and a significant decrease in depression symptoms (P < .002).Conclusion :

Prevalence of Antenatal Depression and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Nigeria

“…Lack of education of woman as a risk factor was also identified in another study [35]. Illiteracy has been strongly linked to low self-esteem, feeling of worthlessness, and shame [39]. Government should introduce literacy education to these illiterate or poorly educated pregnant women to improve self-efficacy which has been demonstrated to lessen depression symptoms [39].…”

Impact of postnatal maternal depressive symptoms and infant’s sex on mother-infant interaction among Bangladeshi women

“…In our Bangladeshi sample, mothers with depressive symptoms were less educated and poorer than mothers without depressive symptoms, which might have contributed to low self-confidence in mothers with depressive symptoms and the ratings of the PBQ. Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness have been associated with both depression and limited literacy [32]. Mothers with depressive symptoms often know that they have not been available enough for their infants, and therefore could try hard to do everything right during the observations.…”

Parent Health Literacy, Depression, and Risk for Pediatric Injury

“…For example, providing literacy education to adults with both depression symptoms and limited literacy improves their self-efficacy and decreases the severity of depression symptoms. 46 Pictographic instructions and colorcoding helps caregivers improve the accuracy of their child's medication dosing 44 and own understanding of BMI charting. 43 Pediatricians may need to use such approaches when providing anticipatory guidance for parents of young children related to home and firearm safety, including how to respond to acute childhood injuries or common household emergencies.…”