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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 9, No. 8
Publication Date: August 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/assrj.98.12969. Park, M. (2022). Subjective Academic Achievement, Economic Status, and Smoking and Drinking Behaviors among Adolescents.
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(8). 417-420.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Subjective Academic Achievement, Economic Status, and Smoking
and Drinking Behaviors among Adolescents
Min-Hee Park
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the relationship between subjective academic
achievement, economic status, and smoking and drinking behaviors among
adolescents in one region of South Korea. In this study, a secondary analysis was
performed on data of adolescents in 2020. The present study found that smokers
had lower subjective academic scores than nonsmokers (t=15.343, p<0.001), and
drinkers had lower subjective academic scores than nonsmokers (t=8.821,
p<0.001). In terms of subjective economic status, smokers had lower subjective
economic status scores than nonsmokers (t=7.378, p=0.003), and drinkers had
lower subjective economic status scores than nonsmokers (t=6.080, p=0.001).
Efforts should be made to increase academic achievement by preventing smoking
and drinking behaviors in adolescents. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent an
increase in exposure to smoking and drinking owing to socioeconomic status.
Keywords: adolescents, academic achievement, economic status, smoking, drinking
INTRODUCTION
Smoking and drinking in adolescents are major predictors of nicotine and alcohol use disorders
in adults. Smoking and drinking among adolescents are associated with low academic
achievement, making it difficult for them to adjust to school life and increasing the likelihood of
developing into crisis adolescents [1]. In addition, in the case of adults, smoking and drinking
behaviors because of low economic status have been identified as major indicators of health
inequality; however, in the case of adolescents, related studies are limited [2]. Therefore, it is
necessary to investigate academic achievement and economic status of adolescents according
to whether they smoke or drink, prevent smoking and drinking among adolescents, and
supplement the results of academic achievement owing to smoking and drinking [3].
This study attempted to provide basic data for the establishment of youth smoking and drinking
prevention policies in a local city. The specific objectives of the study are as follows: (1) to
investigate the degree of smoking and drinking, subjective academic achievement, and
economic status; (2) to identify the difference between smoking and drinking behaviors and
subjective academic achievement, and (3) to identify the differences between smoking and
drinking behaviors and subjective economic status.
METHODS
Study Design
This descriptive study aimed to identify the relationships between subjective academic
achievement, subjective economic status, and smoking and drinking behaviors among
adolescents in one region of South Korea.
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 8, August-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Participants and Data
This study used data from the 2020 Alcohol Research Survey [4], which was conducted and
published for adolescents in City A. A total of 26,844 students from 12 elementary, 171 middle,
and 144 general high schools participated in the alcohol consumption survey in City A. Data
collection was conducted using a self-reported online survey, and only students who
voluntarily participated were surveyed.
Study Instruments
1. Subjective academic achievement was evaluated on a 5-point scale (1 to 5), with a higher
score indicating a higher subjective academic achievement.
2. Subjective economic status was evaluated on a 5-point scale (1 to 5), with a higher score
indicating a higher the subjective economic status.
RESULT
Participants’ Subjective Academic Achievement, Economic Status, and Smoking and
Drinking Behaviors
The participants’ subjective academic score was 2.96 (out of 5 points), and the participants’
subjective academic score was 3.14 (out of 5). Of the 26,844 participants, 782 (2.9%) smoked,
and 1,406 (5.2%) consumed alcohol (Table 1) at the time of the survey.
Subjective Academic Achievement and Smoking and Drinking Behaviors
The average score of the students who did not smoke was 3.28, and that of the students who
smoked was 2.64, showing a statistically significant difference (t=15.343, p<0.001). The
average academic score of students who did not drink was 3.27, and that of students who did
drink was 3.00, showing a statistically significant difference (t=8.821, p<0.001) (Table 2).
Table 1. Subjective academic achievement, economic status, and smoking and drinking
behaviors
Variables N(%) Mean
Min 1–Max 5
Subjective academic achievement 2.96
Subjective economic status 3.14
Smoking
No smoking 26,062 (97.1)
Smoking 782 (2.9)
Drinking
No drinking 25,438 (94.8)
Drinking 1,406 (5.2)
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Park, M. (2022). Subjective Academic Achievement, Economic Status, and Smoking and Drinking Behaviors among Adolescents. Advances in Social
Sciences Research Journal, 9(8). 417-420.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.98.12969
Subjective Economic Status and Smoking and Drinking Behaviors
There was a statistically significant difference (t=7.378, p=0.003) between the mean score of
students who did not smoke (SD=3.53) and that of students who did smoke (SD=3.27).
Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference (t=6.080, p=0.001) between the
mean score of students who did not drink (SD=3.53) and that of students who did drink
(SD=3.37) (Table 3).
DISCUSSION
This study found that smokers and drinkers had lower subjective academic achievement and
economic status scores. This is consistent with the finding that low academic achievement and
poverty are associated with adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and drug use [5]. Students who started
using alcohol or marijuana were also less likely to attend class regularly, complete homework,
achieve high scores, and value good grades than their peers who did not use alcohol or
Table 2. Subjective academic achievement and smoking and drinking behaviors
Variables
Subjective academic achievement
Mean (SD)
(min 1–max 5) T p
Smoking
No smoking
(n=26,062) 3.28 (1.138)
15.343 0.001
Smoking
(n=782) 2.64 (1.313)
Drinking
No drinking
(n=25,438) 3.27 (1.141)
8.821 0.001
Drinking
(n=1,406) 3.00 (1.245)
Table 3. Subjective economic status and smoking and drinking behaviors
Variables
Subjective economic status
Mean (SD)
(min 1–max 5) t p
Smoking
No smoking
(n=26,062) 3.53 (0.938)
7.378 0.003
Smoking
(n=782) 3.27 (1.065)
Drinking
No drinking
(n=25,438) 3.53 (1.024)
6.080 0.001
Drinking
(n=1,406) 3.37 (0.926)