Changes in Smoking Behavior Following an Increase in Cigarette Price Among Korean Adolescents

Abstract

We analyzed data from the first Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey to examine (1) a change in smoking behavior following a cigarette price increase on December 30, 2014 among 6,458 Korean adolescents who smoked at the time of the price increase, and also (2) factors associated with reduced cigarette consumption, smoking cessation, and continuous abstinence from smoking. Following the price increase, 15% of the study population reduced cigarette consumption, and 31% quit smoking. 60% of the quitters achieved nine months of continuous abstinence from smoking. Findings from a multinominal logistic regression model show that younger grades at school, parental education level, academic performance, smoking attempt at older ages, exposure to anti-smoking campaign, no high-risk drinking, and no inhalants use are positively associated with reduced cigarette consumption and also with smoking cessation. Furthermore, female, older grades at school, smoking attempt at younger ages, no high-risk drinking, no inhalants use, and no depression are significantly associated with continuous abstinence. Anti-smoking campaign and anti-smoking education are associated with cessation, but not with continuous abstinence. In addition, depression, high-risk drinking, use of inhalants appear to deter reduced cigarette consumption, cessation, and continuous abstinence. Therefore, we deduce that preventive education for risky behaviors such as risky drinking and inhalants use, along with anti-smoking education, at school would further potentially positive effects of anti-smoking education.