Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between depression and attention concentration by smoking status among adolescents. METHODS: Depression was measured by Radloff's Center for Epidemiological studies Depression(1977) and modified by Korean(Chon & Lee, 1992), attention concentration measured by Nideffer's Test of Attention and Interpersonal Style(1976) and modified by Korean adolescents(Seo, 2004; Shin, 1988). The collected data was analyzed by the Mean +/- SD, chi-square-test, ANOVA, Scheffe and Pearson correlation coefficient(SPSS 13.0).
RESULTS
1. The smoking level appeared to heavy smoking group 31(22%), light smoking group 15(11%), non smoking group 92(67%). 2. The smoking level was different between the time to begin smoking, period of smoking and smoking amount/day. 3. Smoking group's depression was higher than those of the non smoking group and attention concentration was lower than those of the non smoking group. 4. The smoking amount had a significant positive correlation with depression and a significant negative correlation with attention concentration. Depression had a significant negative correlation with attention concentration.
CONCLUSION
The result of this study offered the basis data for smoking prevention and treatment of adolescents.

• Keywords: Smoking, Depression, Attention