Health Risk Behaviors Affecting Internet Usage in Adolescents: Evidence from the 2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the effects of health risk behaviors on the daily Internet usage of Korean high school students.

The data of 19,830 high school students who responded to the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey were analyzed from June to July 2018.

The mean daily Internet usage of high school students was 193.3±125.7 minutes. There were differences in daily Internet usage according to body mass index, grade level, school type, academic achievement, economic status, physical activity, number of physical education classes attended, safety accidents, and safety education (p<.05). Daily Internet usage also differed according to health risk behaviors, including smoking (t=8.32), alcohol consumption (t=9.36), drug use (t=4.51), and risky sexual behaviors (t=5.94). The daily Internet usage of students significantly increased in the absence of physical activity and with health risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, and risky sexual behaviors.

It is necessary to develop an intervention program and provide education on increasing physical activity and reducing health risk behaviors for the proper management of health and Internet usage in adolescents.