Ozden Erdem
Abstract
Objective
To identify adolescents’ media literacy levels and their ability to make sound decisions and use critical thinking skills in the context of obesity prevention behaviors.
MethodsDesign
Cross-sectional study
Setting
An elementary and a middle school in İstanbul, Turkey.
Participants
Fourth, fifth and eighth-grade students (N=634).
Main Outcome Measures
Body Mass Index, the Media Literacy for Obesity
Prevention, and the Sound Decision-making and Critical
Thinking.
Analysis
Descriptive and chi-square analysis.
Results
The adolescents’ critical thinking skills mean score was 25.85±4.54. The Media Literacy mean score was 16.21±4.19. The decision-making skills mean score was 9.65±2.10. In the context of preventing obesity, a statistically significant difference was seen between Media Literacy behaviors in the context of obesity prevention and critical thinking skills (x2:175.99; p<0.05, 218.50; p<0.05, 233.72; p<0.05).
Conclusion
Adolescents have a low level of critical thinking skills in the context of obesity prevention. Their Media Literacy and decision-making skills are at a moderate level. The fact that the adolescents who had low levels of critical thinking skills with respect to obesity prevention constituted the majority suggests that these young people will be unable to prevent obesity going forward and may face the risk of developing obesity-related chronic illnesses.
