Search Results (3,154)

Introduction: Sexual consent is a multidimensional construct involving both internal willingness and external communication, yet validated French-language instruments assessing these dimensions remain scarce. Objective: This study aimed to validate French versions of the Internal and External Consent Scales (IECS-FV) and examine their associations with sociodemographic and intimate relationship variables. Methods: A sample of 649 French-speaking emerging adults (18–25 years) completed translated versions of the Internal Consent Scale (ICS-FV) and External Consent Scale (ECS-FV), alongside measures of sociodemographic characteristics and intimate relationship factors. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), gender invariance testing, reliability analyses, ANOVAs, and correlational analyses were conducted. Results: The revised ICS-FV demonstrated excellent psychometric properties with a 19-item four-factor structure: physical response/arousal, agreement/wantedness, safety/comfort, and readiness. The ECS-FV showed satisfactory psychometric properties with a refined 15-item five-factor structure: non-verbal behavior, passive behavior, communicative/initiator behavior, borderline pressure, and non-response signals. Almost all factors demonstrated good internal consistency (α ≥ 0.70). Gender invariance was supported for the ECS-FV but not for the ICS-FV. Positive internal and external consent dimensions were significantly associated with higher sexual satisfaction, romantic relationship satisfaction, sexual frequency, and relationship commitment; whereas non-response and passive behaviors were linked to less favorable outcomes. Conclusions: The French versions of the IECS-FV are reliable and valid tools for assessing multidimensional sexual consent in French-speaking emerging adults. These instruments offer valuable resources for research, prevention, and clinical interventions targeting sexual health, relational functioning, and sexual violence prevention. Full article

Background/Objectives: Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease influenced by behavioral, metabolic, and lifestyle-related factors. This study aimed to examine the associations of selected dietary habits, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking, and oral hygiene behaviors with clinical periodontal parameters in a clinical sample of adults with periodontitis from northwestern Romania. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 204 adults with clinically diagnosed periodontitis. Sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, physical activity, toothbrushing frequency, tooth mobility, and selected dietary habits were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Periodontal status was clinically evaluated using periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP), while BMI was calculated from anthropometric measurements. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to evaluate associations between the investigated factors and periodontal parameters. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed separately for PPD, CAL, and BOP, simultaneously including age, sex, BMI, smoking status, physical activity frequency, toothbrushing frequency, tooth mobility, education level, and the assessed dietary habits. Results: In the fully adjusted multivariable analyses, fish consumption 1–3 times/week was independently associated with lower PPD, whereas sweets consumption 1–3 times/week was independently associated with higher PPD. Carbonated beverage and sweets consumption 1–3 times/week were independently associated with higher BOP. Although the multivariable model for CAL was statistically significant overall, none of the individual predictors included in the model reached statistical significance. BMI and physical activity frequency were not independently associated with PPD, CAL, or BOP after simultaneous adjustment for the other variables. Age group was significantly associated with CAL category (χ²(2) = 13.28, p = 0.001, Cramér’s V = 0.255), while educational level was significantly associated with toothbrushing frequency (χ² = 62.26, p < 0.001, Cramér’s V = 0.39). Conclusions: Selected dietary habits were independently associated with PPD and BOP after adjustment for demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, and oral hygiene factors, whereas no individual predictor was independently associated with CAL in the fully adjusted model. BMI and physical activity were not independently associated with the periodontal parameters examined. These findings emphasize the multifactorial nature of periodontal status and suggest that specific dietary habits may be associated with different clinical dimensions of periodontal disease. However, causal relationships cannot be established due to the cross-sectional design of the study. Prospective studies using validated dietary assessment methods are needed to confirm these associations. Full article

Objective: To examine the reliability, construct validity, and discriminative capacity of the Spanish version of the Economic Living Standards Index Short Form (ELSI_SF) in a sample of older adults in Spain. Methods: This analysis was conducted using baseline data from 133 participants (mean age = 66.2 years, SD = 5.6; 53.8% women) recruited from community health and social centers in the provinces of Cuenca, Albacete, and Toledo within the PEPE cohort. Participants completed the ELSI_SF (25 items), sociodemographic measures, the SF-12 Health Survey, and the International Fitness Scale (IFIS). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Convergent validity was examined through correlations between ELSI_SF scores and education, occupation, physical and mental health, and perceived fitness. Discriminative ability for health-related variables was analyzed using ANOVA and partial η². The internal structure was explored using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and subsequently examined against the original four-factor theoretical model using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), based on polychoric correlations and estimation methods appropriate for ordinal data. Results: The mean ELSI_SF score was 23.0 ± 3.9, with most participants classified as having comfortable or good living standards. Internal consistency was acceptable for the total scale (α = 0.779), whereas the ownership restrictions (α = 0.441) and self-rating (α = 0.319) subscales showed low reliability. Significant associations were observed between the ELSI_SF total score and selected socioeconomic and health-related measures. Factor-analytic findings provided only partial support for the original four-domain structure. Although CFA showed favorable CFI, TLI, and RMSEA values, the elevated SRMR and instability of the self-rating factor warrant cautious interpretation of the factorial solution. Conclusions: The Spanish ELSI_SF provides preliminary psychometric evidence supporting the use of its total score among relatively socioeconomically advantaged older adults. However, limitations in subscale reliability, factorial stability, and the restricted socioeconomic variability of the sample preclude definitive validation across the full spectrum of material living standards. Further evaluation in larger, independent, and more socioeconomically heterogeneous samples, particularly including older adults experiencing material deprivation, is required. Full article

Objective: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients treated in a public assisted reproduction unit and to analyze the association between these characteristics and the type of assisted reproductive technique used. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, observational, descriptive-analytical study was conducted including patients who initiated or underwent assisted reproductive techniques at a tertiary public hospital in Andalusia between January and June 2025. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected from electronic medical records and analyzed using bivariate and multivariate models. The main outcome was the type of assisted reproductive technique used. Results: A total of 222 patients were included. The mean age was 34.70 years (SD 3.99), and most were employed, nonsmokers, and of normal weight. Heterosexual couples were the most frequent family model, although single mothers by choice and female couples also represented a substantial proportion of the cohort. In the adjusted multivariable model, older maternal age (aOR = 1.19, p = 0.004), male factor infertility (aOR = 5.07, p = 0.026), and mixed factor infertility (aOR = 5.43, p = 0.017) were significantly associated with higher odds of undergoing high-complexity techniques. Conversely, urban residence (aOR = 0.24, p = 0.003) and single motherhood by choice (aOR = 0.12, p = 0.010) were significantly associated with lower odds of high-complexity techniques (and higher reliance on low-complexity procedures). Educational level, BMI, smoking status, and structural uterine pathology showed no independent association with technique complexity. Structural uterine pathology was among the most frequent gynecological findings, but no independent association with high-complexity techniques was demonstrated in the adjusted analysis. New family models accounted for 23.6% of the cohort, including 16.67% single mothers by choice and 6.94% female couples. Conclusions: In this cohort, the type of assisted reproductive technique used was mainly associated with clinical factors and family model rather than with the sociodemographic variables analyzed. These findings describe patterns of technique selection in a public assisted reproduction unit, but do not directly assess access to care. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to develop machine learning (ML)-based models for the early prediction of macrosomia using only maternal sociodemographic and obstetric data. Methods: This retrospective study included 100 pregnant women who delivered at the Obstetric Clinic of Eskisehir City Hospital between January 2022 and December 2023. Participants were classified as nulliparous (n = 48) or parous (n = 52) and further categorized according to the presence or absence of fetal macrosomia (birth weight > 4000 g). Predictor variables included maternal age, body mass index (BMI), gravida, smoking status, history of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension; previous birth weight was additionally included in the parous model. Separate machine learning models were developed for nulliparous and parous women using Extra Trees Classifier, Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) Classifier, Random Forest, and Logistic Regression. The dataset was randomly divided into training (80%) and testing (20%) subsets. Internal validation was performed using 10-fold cross-validation within the training dataset to optimize model performance and reduce overfitting. Given the relatively small sample size, this study was designed as a pilot exploratory investigation. Results: Overall, 48 nulliparous and 52 parous mothers were included in the study. Among the nulliparous women, 22 (45.8%) had macrosomic newborns, whereas 26 (54.2%) had normal birthweight newborns. Among parous women, 28 (53.8%) had macrosomic newborns, while 24 (46.2%) had normal birthweight newborns. For nulliparous mothers, the XGB Classifier achieved the highest accuracy (80%) and AUC-ROC (82.2%), demonstrating robust predictive performance. For parous mothers, the XGB Classifier again outperformed other ML models, achieving an accuracy of 72.7% and an AUC-ROC of 83.3% in predicting macrosomia. Conclusions: This study highlights the feasibility of ML-based decision support systems in obstetrics, particularly in low-resource settings, to predict macrosomia using readily available maternal characteristics. As a pilot study, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and require validation in larger multicenter cohorts before clinical implementation. Full article

This study examines consumer preferences for goat cheese by jointly analysing sensory evaluations and willingness to pay more (WTPM) for artisanal and industrial products. Using a comparative experimental design conducted in Sicily (Italy) with 105 regular cheese consumers recruited through convenience sampling in a controlled laboratory setting, the study investigates how differences in farming systems and processing methods—from extensive pasture-based systems to intensive industrial production—affect sensory perception and WTPM. Two ordered logit models with increasing price levels were estimated to identify the determinants of WTPM, one for industrial goat cheese and one for artisanal goat cheese, including sensory evaluations and socio-demographic variables as explanatory factors. A paired t-test was also performed to assess whether sensory evaluations differed significantly between the two cheeses. The results indicate that sensory quality was the main driver of WTPM for artisanal goat cheese, with aroma emerging as the strongest sensory predictor in the exploratory ordered logit model (β = 3.535; p < 0.01). However, the sensory comparison revealed only modest differences between the two cheeses, with taste showing the clearest differentiation in favour of artisanal cheese. Among extrinsic attributes, only PDO certification positively affected WTPM, whereas the negative association observed for biodegradable packaging should be interpreted cautiously as an exploratory finding requiring further investigation. Origin-based signals such as PDO therefore appeared to enhance value alongside, rather than replace, sensory differentiation, acting as complementary rather than substitutive cues. Overall, the findings contribute to the literature on food systems and consumer behaviour by linking sensory perception with production systems and showing how artisanal dairy products can generate consumer value through the combination of sensory characteristics and extrinsic attributes related to origin and production identity. Full article

Background: Life satisfaction and psychological distress are associated with multiple lifestyle, sleep-related, psychosocial, and sociodemographic factors. However, multinational evidence simultaneously examining these positive and negative psychological dimensions within a comprehensive Mediterranean lifestyle framework remains limited. This study examined correlates of life satisfaction and psychological distress among adults from Mediterranean and neighbouring countries participating in the MEDIET4ALL survey. Methods: Data were collected from 4010 adults (59.5% female) across 10 Mediterranean and neighbouring countries using a standardized multilingual e-survey. Life satisfaction was assessed as the primary outcome using the Short Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (SLSQ), whereas psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) was assessed as the secondary outcomes using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Mediterranean lifestyle adherence was assessed using the validated MEDLIFE index, integrating dietary habits with brief indicators of physical activity, rest, and social/convivial habits, while complementary validated measures provided more detailed assessments of physical activity, sedentarily, sleep, insomnia and social participation. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of the primary and secondary outcomes. Bootstrapped exploratory cross-sectional indirect-association analyses were conducted to examine selected indirect statistical associations involving Mediterranean lifestyle adherence, physical activity, social participation, insomnia severity, life satisfaction, and psychological outcomes. Results: Higher life satisfaction was associated with greater Mediterranean lifestyle adherence, better subjective sleep quality, higher social participation, higher education, marital or cohabiting status, and better self-reported health status (β ≈ 0.06–0.18). Conversely, lower life satisfaction was associated with higher body mass index, greater physical activity expenditure, higher insomnia severity, and regional differences between Mediterranean and neighbouring/non-Mediterranean countries (β ≈ −0.05 to −0.19). Insomnia severity showed the strongest negative association with life satisfaction (β = −0.19). Across psychological distress outcomes, insomnia severity emerged as the strongest positive correlate of depression, anxiety, and stress (β ≈ 0.43–0.47), followed by alcohol consumption (β ≈ 0.12–0.15) and residence in Mediterranean countries (β ≈ 0.05–0.08). Older age, analysed as a continuous variable, better self-reported health status, and higher physical activity levels were consistently associated with lower distress levels (β ≈ −0.03 to −0.14). Exploratory cross-sectional indirect-association analyses identified statistically significant indirect associations involving insomnia severity among Mediterranean lifestyle adherence, life satisfaction, and psychological distress. Additional indirect statistical associations involving life satisfaction were observed among physical activity, social participation, and psychological distress outcomes, although their magnitudes were small. Conclusions: Mediterranean lifestyle adherence, social participation, physical activity, sleep-related characteristics, and sociodemographic and health-related factors were associated with life satisfaction and psychological distress. Sleep-related variables, particularly insomnia severity and subjective sleep quality, emerged as the most consistent correlates across the psychological outcomes. These cross-sectional findings, including the exploratory indirect statistical associations, should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and not as evidence of temporal ordering, causal mediation, or behavioural mechanisms. Full article

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is an important maternal mental health concern. Knowledge, self-efficacy, and social support may be associated with the recognition and severity of depressive symptoms. This study assessed PPD knowledge among pregnant women/mothers and adults from the broader population in Saudi Arabia and examined the associations of self-efficacy and perceived social support with depressive-symptom scores in the maternal group. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia from January to March 2021. Convenience and chain-referral sampling were implemented through WhatsApp. The analytical sample included 432 pregnant women/mothers aged ≥18 years and 275 broader-population participants. Arabic-language questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics and PPD knowledge; the maternal-group questionnaire also assessed depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and perceived social support. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, linear regression, and one-way ANOVA were used. Results: Good PPD knowledge was observed in 73.8% of the maternal group and 77.5% of the broader-population group. Self-efficacy (r = −0.246, p < 0.001) and perceived social support (r = −0.197, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with depressive-symptom scores. Both variables were statistically significant in the regression model; self-efficacy had the larger absolute standardized coefficient (β = −0.246) compared with perceived social support (β = −0.197). Depressive-symptom scores also differed across categories of age, family income, education, and previous PPD history. Conclusions: The study demonstrated a relatively good level of knowledge about postpartum depression among the surveyed participants. Higher perceived social support and self-efficacy were associated with better maternal mental health outcomes, highlighting their important role in the context of postpartum depression. These findings underscore the relevance of knowledge, social support, and self-efficacy in understanding postpartum mental health among the study population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Magnesium (Mg) deficiency has been linked to various adverse health outcomes; however, its association with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has not been fully elucidated. This study examined the association of serum Mg levels with MASLD in Korean adults. Methods: We analyzed a nationwide sample of 4952 adults in South Korea. Serum Mg levels (mg/dL) were measured. MASLD was defined as a hepatic steatosis index score of ≥36 together with the presence of cardiometabolic risk factor, including overweight/obesity, high fasting glucose, high blood pressure, high plasma triglycerides, or low plasma HDL cholesterol. The association between serum Mg levels and MASLD was examined using logistic regressions. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) serum Mg level was 2.13 (0.15) mg/dL. The prevalence of MASLD was 25.7%. After adjusting for the sociodemographic variables, the OR (95% CI) for the association between a 1–SD increment in serum Mg levels and MASLD was 0.90 (0.84–0.96, p = 0.004). Conclusions: This nationally representative cross-sectional study found that serum Mg levels were inversely associated with the likelihood of MASLD among adults in South Korea. Full article

Breast cancer is a leading public health concern among low- and middle-income countries, primarily due to inadequate knowledge and lack of early detection practices. This study aimed to assess knowledge about the signs and symptoms, risk factors, and screening procedures for breast cancer, and barriers and perceptions of screening, among female university students of Pakistan to explore the relationship between socio-demographic variables and levels of knowledge about breast cancer. A total of 413 participants took part in a cross-sectional survey and completed a self-administrative online questionnaire. The results reflected an overall poor knowledge among female students, with only 3.9% demonstrating adequate knowledge about risk factors and 7.7% correctly recognizing 80% or more relevant signs and symptoms. Embarrassment (58.8%) and lack of confidence in communicating symptoms with healthcare providers (50.6%) were the most commonly reported barriers for breast cancer screening. Young age and income status below PKR 50,000 per month (OR = 3.47, 95%CI: 1.20–10.07 rel. to highest income) were significantly associated with poor breast cancer knowledge. In conclusion, this study reports sub-optimal breast cancer awareness levels in the target population, indicating the need for awareness programs and policy-driven interventions to reduce barriers, improve knowledge, and improve adherence to screening recommendations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood cancer outcomes are influenced by clinical, socioeconomic, and territorial factors, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study characterized pediatric cancer patients from Córdoba and Sucre, Colombia, and evaluated factors associated with clinical outcomes in a regional referral center. Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study included 434 patients aged 0–18 years diagnosed between 2018 and 2024. Sociodemographic, clinical, and territorial socioeconomic variables were analyzed using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). Clinical outcomes were classified as favorable, non-favorable, or death. Firth-penalized logistic regression models were used to assess adjusted associations. Results: Hematologic malignancies predominated (65.9%), with acute lymphoblastic leukemia as the most frequent diagnosis. Most patients came from municipalities with moderate or high multidimensional poverty (85.2%), and the rural territories of origin showed greater deprivation in education, employment, housing, water access, and sanitation. Favorable outcomes occurred in 82.9% of patients, while 8.5% had non-favorable outcomes and 8.5% died. Older age and non-hematologic malignancies were associated with non-favorable outcomes. Mortality was associated with older age, subsidized health insurance, and non-hematologic malignancies. MPI and rural residence were not independently associated with outcomes after adjustment. Conclusions: Although MPI was not independently associated with clinical outcomes, it identified substantial territorial deprivation. Integrating clinical and territorial indicators may support equity-oriented surveillance and pediatric oncology interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Severe dengue and dengue–malaria coinfection represent major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in tropical endemic settings, where overlapping clinical manifestations may delay recognition of deterioration. This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with severe dengue, dengue with warning signs, and dengue–malaria coinfection treated at a referral hospital in Montería, Córdoba, Colombia. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted by reviewing medical records of patients diagnosed with dengue between 2018 and 2023. Cases classified as dengue without warning signs were excluded. The final analysis included patients with dengue-warning signs, severe dengue, and dengue–malaria coinfection. Dengue classification followed the 2009 World Health Organization criteria, and malaria was confirmed by thick blood smear. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, geographic, and outcome-related variables were collected. Descriptive analyses were performed, and selected categorical variables were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Fifty-three patients were included: 25 (47.17%) with severe dengue, 14 (26.42%) with dengue with warning signs, and 14 (26.42%) with dengue–malaria coinfection. Severe dengue was more frequent among females, whereas dengue with warning signs and coinfection predominated in males. Children accounted for the highest proportion of severe dengue cases, while coinfected cases were mainly distributed between childhood and adolescence. Fever was documented in all patients. Edema, elevated hematocrit, severe plasma leakage, and hemodynamic compromise were more frequent among severe dengue cases, whereas myalgia differed significantly across clinical groups. Ten deaths were recorded, six occurring in coinfected patients. Conclusions: Severe dengue and dengue–malaria coinfection are clinically complex conditions with overlapping manifestations and potentially fatal outcomes, highlighting the need for early recognition, differential diagnosis, and close monitoring. Full article

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying containment measures substantially altered everyday life and created conditions that could intensify psychological distress. Physical activity is widely recognized as a factor supporting mental well-being, yet less is known about whether specific forms of outdoor activity were associated with perceived stress during the first pandemic wave. This study aimed to assess the relationship between selected forms of outdoor physical activity and perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among residents of Poland and Italy. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was based on data collected within a previously published multinational survey conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included respondents from Poland and Italy and examined PSS scores in relation to three broad self-reported agreement items concerning walking in public places, walking in the neighborhood, and outdoor sports such as running or cycling. Responses were analyzed in their original categories and were additionally dichotomized as agreement versus disagreement. Non-parametric tests were used for unadjusted comparisons, and multivariable logistic regression adjusted for country and sociodemographic and health-related factors. Results: In unadjusted analyses, respondents who agreed that they walked in public places or engaged in outdoor sports had lower mean PSS scores than those who disagreed (20.40 vs. 21.61 and 20.59 vs. 21.70, respectively; both p < 0.001). Respondents who agreed that they walked in their neighborhood had a slightly higher mean PSS score than those who disagreed (21.76 vs. 21.26; p = 0.018). After correction of the dichotomized activity variables, none of the three outdoor activity measures were independently associated with high perceived stress in the adjusted model. Conclusions: Self-reported walking in public places and outdoor sports were associated with lower PSS scores in unadjusted comparisons, whereas neighborhood walking showed a small association in the opposite direction. None of the three broad activity measures were independently associated with high perceived stress after adjustment. Because the study was cross-sectional and outdoor activity was assessed using simple agreement statements rather than frequency, duration, or intensity measures, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and do not support causal conclusions. Full article

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, yet commonly used screening questionnaires may perform differently because of pregnancy-specific physiological changes. This study compared questionnaire-based OSA risk classifications obtained using the Berlin Questionnaire and STOP-BANG and examined their associations with metabolic parameters and diabetes-related history. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 210 pregnant women attending a tertiary obstetrics clinic. Berlin Questionnaire high risk was defined as positivity in at least two categories. STOP-BANG scores of 0–2, 3–4, and 5–8 indicated low, moderate, and high risk, respectively. Sociodemographic, obstetric, anthropometric, and biochemical variables were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The Berlin Questionnaire classified 34 participants (16.2%) as high risk. STOP-BANG classified 183 (87.1%) as low risk, 5 (2.4%) as moderate risk, and 22 (10.5%) as high risk. Higher current weight was associated with increased questionnaire-based OSA risk according to both tools. In the Berlin model, HbA1c, BMI, and family history of diabetes were independently associated with high questionnaire-based OSA risk. No independent associations were identified in the STOP-BANG model. Although the Berlin model had 83.3% overall accuracy, it correctly classified only 2.9% of high-risk participants. Conclusions: The questionnaires identified different patterns of OSA risk. Findings were instrument-specific and do not indicate confirmed OSA. Given the absence of polysomnography, modest model performance, and limited high-risk classification, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Full article

Background: Health literacy is widely recognized as a fundamental determinant of chronic disease self-management. Despite the escalating burden of diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia, the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care management within specific urban–peripheral communities remains inadequately characterized. This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care management among adults with diabetes residing in southern Riyadh, and to examine associations with key sociodemographic variables, including age, income, gender, and educational attainment. Methods: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design was employed. A purposive sample of 92 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes was recruited from primary healthcare centers in southern Riyadh. Data were gathered using the Arabic-validated 12-item European Health Literacy Scale (HLS-Q12) and the 8-item Arabic Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA). Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank-order correlations were computed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 25. Results: A significant positive correlation was identified between health literacy and diabetes self-care management (rs = 0.64, 95% CI [0.50, 0.75], p < 0.01). Income level demonstrated significant positive associations with both health literacy (rs = 0.41, p < 0.01) and self-care practices (rs = 0.40, p < 0.01). Age exhibited significant negative correlations with health literacy (rs = −0.36, p < 0.01) and self-care management (rs = −0.49, p < 0.01). Educational attainment was significantly associated with both self-care management (rs = 0.29, p < 0.01) and health literacy (rs = 0.26, p < 0.05). Gender was not significantly associated with either outcome. Conclusions: Health literacy was significantly associated with diabetes self-care management in southern Riyadh and may represent a potentially modifiable target for nursing intervention. Findings point to the urgency of designing equity-sensitive, culturally responsive interventions targeting older adults and economically marginalized populations. These preliminary findings may carry implications for nursing practice, diabetes education, and health policy in Saudi Arabia, pending confirmation in larger, prospective samples. Full article