이재혁1, 홍승완2

1 대구동산병원 가정의학과, 2계명대학교 동산병원 가정의학과

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic has greatly impacted health, culture, and the
economy. Although it has had little direct effect on children
and adolescents, its indirect effect on them has been
significant. In this study, we aim to evaluate the alcohol and
tobacco consumption behaviors of adolescents and
the economic determination of their families due to COVID-
19.
Methods: We collected data from the Korea Youth Risk
Behavior Survey, which is an annual cross-sectional na-
tional representative survey published by the Korea Disease
Control and Prevention Agency in South Korea.
We considered, in particular, the survey conducted in middle
and high school students in 2020.
Results: The number of subjects was 54,948 with 28,353
male students and 26,595 female students. The drink-
ing rate was higher in male students and female students in
the group with severe economic deterioration com-
pared to the group without deterioration (odd ratio [OR],
1.355; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.175-1.563;
OR, 1.199; 95% CI, 0.987-1.457). The smoking rate was
higher in male students and female students in the
group with severe economic deterioration (OR, 1.435; 95%
CI, 1.180-1.745; OR, 1.809; 95% CI, 1.331-2.457).
The secondhand smoking rate at home was higher in male
students and female students in the group with se-
vere economic deterioration (OR, 1.397; 95% CI, 1.239-1.574;
OR, 1.440; 95% CI, 1.263-1.641).
Conclusions: The economic deterioration due to COVID-19
is a risk factor for alcohol drinking, smoking, and
secondhand smoking among adolescents. Our study results
suggest the need to pay more attention to youth
health management in the event of sudden economic
impacts.
Korean J Health Promot 2023;23(1):8-17
Keywords: COVID-19, Alcohol drinking, Smoking,
Secondhand smoking, Adolescents