Factors Related to Smoking Behavior among High School Students

Abstract

Purpose: The study investigated factors related to the smoking behavior among 639 high school students in Geoje, Korea. Methods: Data collected by self-reported questionnaires was analyzed by the SPSS WIN 14.0 program with Chi-test, t-test, and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Smoking behavior differed by gender (p=.002), school type (p=.001), experience with alcohol consumption (p=.005), family harmony (p=.003), father's smoking (p=.001), academic achievement (p=.010), self-esteem (p=.010), stress (p=.004), and attitude to smoking (p=.0001). Smoking behavior was significantly associated with gender (odds ratio (OR)=0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.46-0.95), school type (OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.03-2.23), experience with alcohol consumption (OR=0.56, 95%CI= 0.39-0.82), academic achievement (OR=1.98, 95-I=1.20-3.29), attitude to smoking (OR= 0.76, 95%CI=0.69-0.84) and father's smoking (OR=1.59, 95%CI=1.11-2.29). Conclusion: Anti-smoking programs for high school students should especially consider those at higher risk (males in vocational high school with no drinking experience of drinking, lower academic achievement, favorable attitude to smoking, and whose fathers smoke). Community efforts to reduce adult smoking would be advantageous.