Sensation seeking and smoking behaviors among adolescents in the Republic of Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the relationship between the four components of sensation seeking (i.e., disinhibition, thrill and adventure seeking, experience seeking, and boredom susceptibility) and three types of smoking behavior (i.e., non-smoking, experimental smoking, and current smoking) among high school students in the Republic of Korea.


METHODS
Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed using two models. In Model 1, the four subscales of sensation seeking were used as covariates, and in Model 2, other control factors (i.e., characteristics related to demographics, individuals, family, school, and friends) were added to Model 1 in order to adjust for their effects.


RESULTS
In Model 1, the impact of disinhibition on experimental smoking and current smoking was statistically significant. In Model 2, the influence of disinhibition on both of these smoking behaviors remained statistically significant after controlling for all the other covariates. Also, the effect of thrill and adventure seeking on experimental smoking was statistically significant. The two statistically significant subscales of sensation seeking were positively associated with the risk of smoking behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
According to extant literature and current research, sensation seeking, particularly disinhibition, is strongly associated with smoking among youth. Therefore, sensation seeking should be measured among adolescents to identify those who are at greater risk of smoking and to develop more effective intervention strategies in order to curb the smoking epidemic among youth.
Jamsil High School, 71 Olympiro 33gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-240, Republic of Korea.
Heejin
H
Hwang
College of Nursing Science, East-West Nursing Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: spark@khu.ac.kr.
Sunhee
S
Park
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001887:Boredom; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012649:Self Concept; D012677:Sensation; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
Adolescent; Cigarette; Sensation seeking; Smoking; Youth