title: Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Academic Achievement: a Cross-sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol consumption among adolescents is a serious public health problem in South Korea. Our study examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and academic achievement in Korean adolescents. In 2011, 75,643 students from seventh to twelfth grade participated in the Seventh Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey (KYRBWS-VII).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between alcohol consumption, frequency of severe alcohol intoxication, and academic achievement for both girls and boys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to non-drinkers, the odds of achieving average or higher academic performance significantly decreased for both boys and girls with increasing number of days per month with reported alcohol consumption (p≤0.008). Further, odds of achieving average or higher academic performance significantly decreased with increasing amounts of alcohol consumed compared to non-drinkers (p≤0.026). Additionally, the odds of achieving average or higher academic performance according to the frequency of severe alcohol intoxication were only significantly decreased for 1-2 days per month of severe intoxication (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both boys and girls with increased alcohol consumption and frequency of severe alcohol intoxication had below average academic achievement in Korea. To improve academic achievement, we recommend interventions that reduce alcohol consumption among adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sport Science, College of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: College of Humanities and Arts, Sports and Health Care, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wi-Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: So
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taikyeong Ted
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey; academic achievement; adolescent; alcohol