Six-year trends and intersectional correlates of meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines among South Korean adolescents: Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 2013-2018.

BACKGROUND

Grounded in intersectionality theory, this study examined the 6-year prevalence trend and correlates in meeting Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (Guidelines hereafter) in a nationally representative adolescent samples of South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea).

METHODS

Self-reported, annually repeated cross-sectional data collected between 2013 and 2018 were used (n = 372,433, 12-17 years old, 47.9% females). Adolescents were categorized as meeting or not meeting different sets of physical activity, screen time (ST), and sleep recommendations within the Guidelines, separately for weekdays and weekend days. Intersectional correlates included sex and social class (i.e., family economic status, parental education level, and academic performance). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, the proportion of adolescents meeting physical activity, ST, and sleep recommendations were 5.3%, 60.3%, and 10.2% on weekdays and 5.3%, 28.2%, and 46.4% on weekend days, respectively. Between 2013 and 2018, no substantial changes were observed for meeting the physical activity or sleep recommendation, while meeting the ST recommendation was markedly lower in 2018. The proportion of meeting all 3 recommendations were 0.5% for weekdays and 0.8% for weekend days. Overall, compared to female adolescents, male adolescents were consistently associated with more favorable patterns of meeting different sets of recommendations, regardless of social class. Among females only, social class appeared to be not important or even detrimental in meeting different sets of recommendations. Being male, compounded with social class, was associated with meeting the ST recommendation.

CONCLUSION

Less than 1% of Korean adolescents met the overall Guidelines. Intersectionality-based analysis and intervention may be important in promoting healthy active lifestyles among South Korean adolescents.