The influence of housing tenure and marital status on smoking in South Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify the most influential socioeconomic indicator of smoking in South Korea.


METHODS
This study analyzed a nationally representative sample (6141 men and 7133 women aged 20-65) from the 2001 and 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Weighted estimates were computed, adjusting for a complex survey design using "surveyfreq" and "surveylogistic" procedures of SAS 9.1 software.


RESULTS
The adjusted OR for smoking in renters compared to homeowners was 1.50 (95% CI: 1.32-1.71) in men and 3.21 (95% CI: 2.41-4.27) in women, and larger in the older than younger groups. For non-married versus married individuals, the OR was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.19-1.59) in men and 3.25 (95% CI: 2.48-4.25) in women; the OR in non-married renters compared married homeowners was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.45-2.22) in men and 10.63 (95% CI: 7.31-15.45) in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Housing tenure was a strong predictor of smoking in South Korea and its significance was very pronounced in non-married individuals. Housing policies to encourage homeownership could be effective in reducing smoking in countries such as China, India, and Vietnam where house ownership is regarded as the ultimate financial safeguard, there are numerous, and traditional attitudes toward marriage are undergoing transition.
Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Republic of Korea. limseungji@hotmail.com
Seungji
S
Lim
Woojin
W
Chung
Hanjoong
H
Kim
Sunmi
S
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010067:Ownership; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult