Smoking, Drinking and Safety Behavior Practices in Middle and High School Students

Kim, Hyeon Ok; Jeon, Mi Suk

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the relationship between smoking, drinking and safety behavior in middle and high school students in one Korean province, North Cholla. METHOD: The study sample included 1,327 randomly selected middle and high school students from S-Gun area in Chonbuk Province. The data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire developed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (2005). The data were analyzed using the SPSSWIN 15.0 program.
RESULTS
The smoking rate in the middle and high school students was 6.9%, and the drinking rate was 24.9%. The rate for seatbelt use was 49.3%, for drunk driving, 8.8%, and for riding in car driven by a drunk driver, 24.0%. The rates for seatbelt use, for drunk driving, and for riding in a drunk driver were higher in smokers and drinkers than in non-smokers and non-drinkers(p<.05).
CONCLUSION
The smoking and drinking status of the adolescents was correlated with their safety behavior practices as they relate to seatbelt use, drunk driving, and for riding in car driven by a drunk driver. Therefore, an elementary school level program to curb student smoking and alcohol consumption is needed to prevent smoking and alcohol consumption in middle and high school students and contribute to improvement in their safety behavior practices.