Factors Affecting Health-Related Behaviors in Younger School-Age Korean Children

Although many studies have reported factors influencing school-age children's health behaviors, most focus on later childhood and early adolescence. It is important to understand children's own perspectives on their health-related behaviors to promote child health. This study identified factors affecting health-related behaviors among younger school-age children via self-report assessments.

Participants (N = 636) were children aged 8 to 9 years (second and third grade) at six elementary schools in South Korea. The variables examined were child characteristics, health locus of control, perceived parental attention, peer support, school environment, and health-related behaviors. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors predicting younger school-age children's health-related behaviors.

Socioeconomic status (family affluence score) had the strongest impact on health-related behaviors, followed by health locus of control, parental attention, and peer support. Living with both parents also had a positive effect. The present results suggest that children within aged 8 to 9 years have the ability to consciously choose and implement health-related behaviors.

Based on these findings, recommendations are as follows: 1) collaboration between parents and health professionals, which, given the importance of parental attention, represents the best approach for guiding children's health-related behaviors; and 2) attention paid to children from low-income backgrounds (at both the school and community levels) can help prevent health inequalities arising from socioeconomic status.