Which quality is NOT a characteristic of a health-literate individual?

A health-literate individual is characterized by an ability to effectively understand and use health information to make informed decisions about their health and wellness. Effective communication, self-directed learning, and critical thinking are all essential skills for health literacy.

Being an effective communicator means being able to convey health information clearly and engage with healthcare providers and peers about health issues. A self-directed learner actively seeks out information and resources to improve their own understanding of health-related topics. Critical thinkers and problem solvers evaluate health information to make sound decisions and solve health-related problems.

In contrast, a person who is dependent on others does not embody the traits of a health-literate individual. Dependency suggests a lack of initiative or the inability to seek out information independently, which contradicts the essence of health literacy. Thus, the quality of being dependent on others is the characteristic that does not align with what it means to be health-literate.