Abstract
Through a latent class analysis approach, we can classify individuals and identify subgroups according to health behavior patterns, and find evidence for the development of customized intervention programs to target high-risk groups. Our study aimed to explore differences in latent classes of health behaviors in adolescents by region (urban vs. rural areas) in a Korean city. This cross-sectional secondary analysis utilized data collected from all first graders’ student health checkups in middle school and high school in a city of the largest island in Korea in 2016 (n = 1807). Health behavior indicators included both healthy (consuming breakfast regularly, consuming vegetables daily, consuming milk daily, consuming fast food on a limited basis, engaging in vigorous physical activities, brushing teeth, and practicing hand hygiene) and unhealthy (drinking, smoking, and overusing the internet) behaviors. Nutritional and diet behaviors were important factors for classifying healthy and unhealthy adolescents in both regions. Approximately 11% of rural students belonged to the risky group, which was characterized by a high level of drinking alcohol and smoking. These results suggest that when developing health policies for adolescents, customized policy-making and education based on the targeted groups’ behavioral patterns could be more effective than a uniform approach.
Highlights
Adolescence is a turning point in life, accompanied by sudden physical, mental, and emotional changes
Important health behaviors in classifying the patterns differed according to region, indicating that the development and implementation of adolescent health policies should be customized by population characteristics
11% of rural students belonged to the risk group, which was characterized by high levels of alcohol consumption and smoking
Summary
Adolescence is a turning point in life, accompanied by sudden physical, mental, and emotional changes. Adolescents’ health behaviors are influenced by various factors, such as ethnicity, culture, and social environment, and they may engage in some risky health behaviors [1]. Health-promoting behaviors should be increased in adolescents, including adequate nutrition and physical activity levels, and they should be made aware of the dangers of risky behaviors to reduce negative health outcomes [4]. Through a latent class analysis approach, we can classify individuals based on their scoring patterns. This analytic approach determines important classification factors and provides evidence for the development of customized interventions targeting high-risk groups and including focused education and health policies [6]
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