Anxiety and Smoking and Drinking Behaviors among Adolescents

Abstract

This study aimed to investigated the anxiety and smoking and drinking behaviors of adolescents in one region of South Korea. This was a secondary data analysis study using data from a survey on youth smoking and drinking. This study found that the distribution of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety levels was higher among smokers than among nonsmokers (χ² = 15.343, p<0.001). In addition, the distribution of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety levels was higher among drinkers than among nondrinkers (χ² = 195.305, p<0.001). It is necessary to prevent mental disorders related to anxiety symptoms through smoking and drinking prevention programs for adolescents in a community.