Chen Gaoran, Lu Hong, Chen Wenqi, Qi Shaojie, Du Wenbin
Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China.
Tob Induc Dis. 2024 Oct 17;22. doi: 10.18332/tid/194099. eCollection 2024.
The global rise in e-cigarette use among adolescents is alarming, with associated socioeconomic inequalities posing potential public health risks. This study examined trends in the socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among South Korean adolescents to inform future regulatory directions.
Socioeconomic inequalities in e-cigarette use among Korean adolescents were assessed using data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) from 2011 to 2023. The Concentration Index, a well-established method for measuring health inequalities, was employed. Additionally, this study investigated how the smoking behaviors of family members and friends influence socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use among Korean adolescents, using a decomposition analysis.
The Concentration Index values showed a clear, fluctuating downward trend over 13 years, from -0.12 (95% CI: -0.13 - -0.10) in 2011 to -0.24 (95% CI: -0.26 - -0.21) in 2023. Decomposition analysis revealed that smoking among peer groups, including friends and siblings, was the primary contributor to socioeconomic inequality in e-cigarette use, followed by maternal smoking.
Socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent e-cigarette use in South Korea are widening, particularly among low socioeconomic status groups. The impact of peer groups on socioeconomic inequalities in e-cigarette use among adolescents is concerning.
青少年电子烟使用在全球范围内呈上升趋势，这令人担忧，与之相关的社会经济不平等带来了潜在的公共卫生风险。本研究调查了韩国青少年电子烟使用方面社会经济不平等的趋势，以为未来的监管方向提供参考。
利用2011年至2023年韩国青少年风险行为网络调查（KYRBS）的数据，评估韩国青少年电子烟使用中的社会经济不平等情况。采用了一种成熟的衡量健康不平等的方法——集中指数。此外，本研究通过分解分析，调查了家庭成员和朋友的吸烟行为如何影响韩国青少年电子烟使用中的社会经济不平等。
集中指数值在13年中呈现出明显的波动下降趋势，从2011年的-0.12（95%置信区间：-0.13至-0.10）降至2023年的-0.24（95%置信区间：-0.26至-0.21）。分解分析表明，包括朋友和兄弟姐妹在内的同龄人群体吸烟是电子烟使用社会经济不平等的主要促成因素，其次是母亲吸烟。
韩国青少年电子烟使用中的社会经济不平等正在扩大，尤其是在社会经济地位较低的群体中。同龄人群体对青少年电子烟使用社会经济不平等的影响令人担忧。
