Trends in socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among adolescents in South Korea

Trends in socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among adolescents in South Korea

Introduction The global rise in e-cigarette use among adolescents is alarming, with associated socioeconomic inequalities posing potential public health risks. This study examined trends in the socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among South Korean adolescents to inform future regulatory dir...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gaoran Chen, Hong Lu, Wenqi Chen, Shaojie Qi, Wenbin Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2024-10-01
Series:Tobacco Induced Diseases
Subjects:
socioeconomic inequality
e-cigarette
adolescents
south korea
Online Access:https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Trends-in-socioeconomic-inequality-in-e-cigarette-use-among-adolescents-in-South,194099,0,2.html
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Summary:Introduction The global rise in e-cigarette use among adolescents is alarming, with associated socioeconomic inequalities posing potential public health risks. This study examined trends in the socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among South Korean adolescents to inform future regulatory directions. Methods Socioeconomic inequalities in e-cigarette use among Korean adolescents were assessed using data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) from 2011 to 2023. The Concentration Index, a well-established method for measuring health inequalities, was employed. Additionally, this study investigated how the smoking behaviors of family members and friends influence socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among Korean adolescents, using a decomposition analysis. Results The Concentration Index values showed a clear, fluctuating downward trend over 13 years, from -0.12 (95% CI: -0.13 – -0.10) in 2011 to -0.24 (95% CI: -0.26 – -0.21) in 2023. Decomposition analysis revealed that smoking among peer groups, including friends and siblings, was the primary contributor to socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use, followed by maternal smoking. Conclusions Socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent e-cigarette use in South Korea are widening, particularly among low socioeconomic status groups. The impact of peer groups on socioeconomic inequalities in e-cigarette use among adolescents is concerning.
ISSN:1617-9625

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