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KMID : 0892720060100010040
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Journal of the Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health
2006 Volume.10 No. 1 p.40 ~ p.57
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Youth Health-Related Behaviors Among Ninth Grade Students
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Lee Myoung-Soon
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Abstract
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Objectives: Our objective in this study was to measure the frequency of health-related behaviors amongst ninth grade students in Korea. The study investigated the association of alcohol and tobacco use with other health risk behaviors. We also examined social influences that affected youth health behaviors.
Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered to 3,739 ninth grade students across eight schools in two cities in Korea. The questionnaire measured the frequency of tobacco, alcohol, and substance use, sexual intercourse, anti-social behaviors, violence, feelings of social isolation at school, depression or attempted suicide, absenteeism from school, gambling, weight control, and seatbelt use. The survey accounted for the social influence of parents, siblings, peers, and other adults on students’ health behaviors. Data was analyzed with frequency, chi-square test, and logistic regression.
Results: Students reported higher frequency of most of health risk behaviors than is reported in other studies on youth health behaviors in Korea. Male students reported statistically higher frequency than female students of tobacco and alcohol use, violence, sexual intercourse, and gambling: female students reported statistically higher frequency than males of depression or attempted suicide, and feelings of social isolation at school. The absence of one parent or both parents affected students’ health behaviors, particularly among female students. The tobacco and alcohol use were statistically strongly associated with most of other health risk behaviors among students. Compared with parents, siblings, and other adults, peers’ influence on students’ tobacco and alcohol use were much stronger.
Conclusions: Korea youth health-related behaviors should be monitored consistently in a surveillance system at the national level, and be improved through multi-dimensional and multi-level health promotion efforts in Korea.
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KEYWORD
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youth, health-related behaviors, health risk behaviors, social influences, Korea
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