Han MA, Kim HR. Smoking Behavior Changes during COVID-19 among Korean Adults.
Am J Health Behav 2021;
45:1031-1040. [PMID:
34969414 DOI:
10.5993/ajhb.45.6.7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
In this study, we investigated the changes in smoking behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea in 2020. We also examined the influence of general characteristics and mental health problems due to COVID-19 on changes in smoking behavior.
METHODS
We collected data from August to October 2020 from adults aged 19 years and older from the Korea Community Health Survey (N=229,269).
RESULTS
Among current smokers (N=39,534), 11.0% reported an increase in smoking, and 12.8% reported a decrease in smoking. Overall, 33.3% reported perceived stress and 3.7% reported depression. Participants reported COVID-related anxiety about infecting family (83.0%), economic damage (76.3%), blame or harm from others (66.5%), infection (60.6%), and death (31.3%). Lower education level, living alone, and poor subjective health status were associated with increased smoking. Being a woman and being of older age were associated with decreased smoking. Stress, depression, and anxiety about economic damage due to COVID-19 were more likely to result in increased smoking. Anxiety related to death due to COVID-19 was more likely to result in decreased smoking.
CONCLUSION
These findings provide insight into the changes in smoking behavior caused by COVID-19.
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