Bridging the Gap: How Family Support and Health Literacy Shape Self-Care in Elderly Hypertension Management

Introduction: Hypertension is a common chronic condition among older adults that negatively affects quality of life and requires effective self-care. Family support and health literacy are key factors influencing self-care behaviors, yet most studies have examined these factors separately and in high-income countries. This study explores their combined impact in a low- to middle-income setting. Objective: To examine the relationship between family support, health literacy, and self-care management among elderly individuals with hypertension. Materials and Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study involved 90 purposively selected participants aged ≥ 60 years with medically diagnosed hypertension from the Prolanis Community Health Center, Kedungmundu, Semarang, Indonesia. Inclusion criteria included the ability to communicate and willingness to participate. Data were collected using validated instruments: the House’s Family Support Questionnaire, the HLS-EU-Q16 for health literacy, and the HSMBQ for self-care. Data analysis used Spearman’s rho test with a significance level of 0.05. Results: A strong positive correlation was found between family support and self-care management (p = 0.000, r = 0.689). A weaker but statistically significant correlation was observed between health literacy and self-care (p = 0.045, r = 0.212). Conclusion: Family support plays a critical role in promoting self-care management among older adults with hypertension. While health literacy also contributes, its influence is comparatively weaker. These findings highlight the need for culturally appropriate interventions that strengthen family involvement and improve health literacy to enhance chronic disease management in aging populations.