Objectives: This study investigated the health behaviors of multicultural and general family adolescents in korea.
Methods: The study subjects were from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2011-2013) dataset, we identified 1,954 multicultural family adolescents and then selected general family adolescents as much as multicultural family 2 times. Frequency analysis was used for analysis of multicultural type and nationality of the parents, chi-square test was used to compare the general characteristics, health behavior of the multicultural and general families. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used for comparison of health behavior between multicultural and general families.
Results: Of the 5,862 multicultural and general family adolescents, current smoker in North Korea family adolescents was higher than general family adolescents(adusted odds ratio, aOR=3.59, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.99-6.48) after adjusting for sex, school year, perceived school record, family structure, father’s education, mother’s education, perceived economic status, place of residence and survey year. High risk drinking rate were significantly high in multicultural family compared to general family adolescents (North Korea: aOR=4.21, 95% CI=2.31-7.68, Other: aOR=1.36, 95% CI=1.01-1.82). Odds ratios for done sufficient physical activity of vigous intensity (aOR=1.80, 95% CI=1.14-2.84) were significantly high in North Korea family adolescents compared to general family adolescents. Skipping breakfast (aOR=1.75, 95% CI=1.04-2.95) and fast food intake (aOR=2.58, 95% CI=1.54-4.34) were significantly high in North Korea family adolescents compared to general family adolescents.
Conclusions: There were difference in multicultural and general family adolescents health behaviors. Further study is needed to investigate health behaviors in multicultural and general family adolescents.