Factors Affecting High School Students' Drinking and Smoking Behaviors and the Relation between Them

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the relation among social support, drinking and smoking and to identify factors affecting high school students' smoking and drinking behaviors. METHODS: Data were collected from 361 high school students (182 students in 2 preparatory schools and 179 students in 2 vocational high schools) who were selected through convenient sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 for Windows. RESULTS: Factors affecting smoking behavior were drinking(OR=15.86. p<0.01), school type(R=11.82, p<0.01), school record(OR=46.62. p<0.001), pocket money (OR= 10.91. p<0.01) and brother's smoking (OR=9.09. p<0.05). Factors affecting drinking behavior were smoking(OR=8.32. p<0.01), school type(OR=2.53. p<0.01), school record(OR=2.35. p<0.01), pocket money(OR=2.01. p<0.05), father's educational background(OR=2.126. p<0.05), mother's drinking(OR= 1.83. p<0.05) and relationship with teacher (OR=2.44. p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The behaviors of drinking and smoking in high school students were highly correlated with each other. School record, school type, pocket money and family member's behaviors influenced student's behaviors. Further study is required to estimate the effect of drinking and smoking intervention programs according to student's characteristics such as school record, school type, pocket money management, and family members' influence.