How allergic conditions influence hygiene practices among adolescents: insights from a nationwide Youth Survey data

Effective handwashing is important for preventing exacerbation of allergic diseases, yet the relationship between allergic diseases in adolescents remains underexplored. Utilizing data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2009-2022), a nationwide study involving students aged 12-19, we analyzed the allergic condition, International Study of Asthma and Allergic Conditions (Never, Previous, Current), and their handwashing scores. We analyzed the trend of handwashing by allergic condition. And we conducted the ordinal logistic regression between allergic condition and handwashing, adjusted with gender, age, economic status, urbanization, smoking status, alcohol consumptions, surveyed year, and education on HW. A total of 3,258,610 adolescents were analyzed. We observed spikes in mean handwashing scores in 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2020, which corresponded with trends in allergic conditions. Adolescents with current asthma and allergic rhinitis had higher odds ratios (ORs) for better handwashing practices compared to those without these conditions. Conversely, those with current or previous atopic dermatitis had lower ORs compared to those without these conditions. In adolescent age, asthma and allergic rhinitis positively influence handwashing practices, while atopic dermatitis negatively influences handwashing practice, due to their comorbidities, highlighting the need for specialized handwashing guidelines that address the unique challenges of those with allergic diseases.