Factors Associated with Lifestyle Habits and Mental Health Problems in Korean Adolescents: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018

To identify factors associated with Korean adolescents’ lifestyle habits and mental health problems (stress perception, depressive mood, and suicidal thoughts), data from 842 adolescents’ (13–18 years) responses to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (VII–2 and 3; 2017–2018) were analyzed. After controlling for sociodemographic and health status characteristics, results of multinomial logistic regression revealed drinking alcohol (stress perception: odds ratio (OR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–2.19; depressive mood: OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.67–4.02; suicidal thoughts: OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.18–4.42), increased sedentary time (stress perception: OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.36–2.58), ≤6 h weekday sleep (stress perception: OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.00–1.66; suicidal thoughts: OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.05–3.75), and 8 h ≤ weekend sleep (stress perception: OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56–0.98; depressive mood: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.41–0.98; suicidal thoughts: OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.21–0.79) were significantly associated with mental health problems. Reducing Korean adolescents’ mental health issues may require alcohol education, timed breaks/reduced sedentary time, and campaigns encouraging adequate sleep for teenagers.