According to the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, the average reported age of drinking and smoking initiation decreased from 15.1 and 15.0 years in 1998 to 13.1 and 12.5 years in 2006, respectively; the prevalence of adolescent female smokers (12.8%) was about twice as high as that of adult female smokers (5.6%); and age at first experience of sexual intercourse also decreased.16,18 These findings have prompted an increased interest in the subsequent psychological status of such individuals. Nonetheless, despite the numerous factors placing this population at higher risk for problematic and suicidal behaviors, relatively few studies have been conducted in this domain.
