COVID-19's infection rate among adolescents is increasing; hence, it is important to prevent it as it can spread in the community through transmission in schools. It is crucial to determine the extent to which adolescents follow COVID-19 preventive measures and identify factors relating to such behaviors to implement more effective health education. This study aimed to understand factors related to COVID-19 preventive behaviors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the health belief model (HBM) among adolescents in South Korea. Design and methods: A cross-sectional face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among 272 adolescents in South Korea. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships between perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Results: Among adolescents' COVID-19 preventive behavior scores, wearing masks was the highest and distancing was the lowest. Adolescents' adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors was directly or indirectly associated with their perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention. Conclusions: Attention to mitigate social isolation is important to improve compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention explained 61.3% of adolescents' COVID-19 preventive behaviors, there is a need for education to promote relevant factors. Practice implications: To increase adolescent awareness of COVID-19 and increase attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control, nurses need to provide education including the evidence for COVID-19 preventive behavior to increase adolescents' understanding and active implementation of those behaviors.
BACKGROUND
Adolescents are described as digital natives, with smartphones deeply embedded in their lives. However, limited literature on smartphone usage patterns exists. This study examined adolescents' smartphone usage patterns and their physical, psychosocial, and cyber‐behavioral profiles.
METHODS
We used latent profile analysis and a person‐centered approach to investigate 11 items on smartphone use purpose and use time. Participants were 2324 first‐year middle‐school students (aged 13 years) from a nationally representative dataset.
RESULTS
Four distinct profile groups were observed: minimalist users, entertainment users, social users, and multifunctional users. The 4 profiles differed by gender and physical (physical activity and obesity), psychosocial (relationships with their parents, depression, and academic lethargy), and cyber‐behavioral (smartphone use time, computer use time, and cyber delinquency) status.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY
Our findings have key research and real‐world implications for developmental psychologists and school health providers, specifically for those who work with adolescents, to address concerns regarding adolescents' smartphone use.
CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents use smartphones at varying times and for various purposes. A better understanding of adolescents' smartphone usage and purposes can help parents and school health providers develop and implement interventions.
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