Effects of family affluence on the health behaviors of Korean adolescents.

AIM: To examine the effect of the level of family affluence on the health-related behaviors of South Korean adolescents.

METHODS: A stratified, random cluster sampling of 400 middle schools and 400 high schools in Korea lead to the selection of 72,435 middle school and high school students. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine the impact of family affluence on the health-related behaviors of Korean adolescents.

RESULTS: The risk of alcohol intake was 0.824 and 0.809 times lower in those adolescents with low and moderate family affluence, respectively, compared to those with a high level of family affluence. The risk of current smoking was 0.896 times lower in the adolescents with moderate family affluence, compared to those with a high level of family affluence. The risk of not exercising was 1.286 and 1.425 times higher in those adolescents who were associated with moderate and low family affluence, respectively, compared to those with a high level of family affluence. The risk of skipping breakfast was 1.433 times higher in the adolescents with low family affluence, compared to those with high family affluence. The risk for consuming no fruit was 1.890 times higher in the adolescents with low family affluence, compared to those with a high level of family affluence.

CONCLUSION: A high level of family affluence had a greater negative impact on alcohol intake and smoking and a greater positive impact on exercise and dietary behaviors, as compared to low and moderate family affluence among Korean adolescents.