More than one-third of domestic adolescents suffer from allergic diseases, and research has found that psychosocial factors such as lack of sleep and stress are closely related to these diseases.
A research team led by Professor Jeon Yoo-hoon from Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents confirmed this fact through a study titled "The impact of environmental, health behavior, and psychosocial factors on allergic diseases in Korean adolescents."
The research team analyzed data from 1,630 adolescents aged 13 to 18 who participated in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Of all survey participants, 35.8% (584 individuals) had one or more allergic diseases, with allergic rhinitis being the most prevalent at 23%, followed by atopic dermatitis at 11%, and asthma at 10%.
Analyzing various factors affecting the incidence of allergic diseases in adolescents, it was found that male students faced a 39% higher risk of allergic rhinitis compared to female students, while female students had a 30% higher risk of atopic dermatitis.
In terms of health behaviors, a clear association between smoking and asthma was observed. Among adolescents with asthma, 21% were smokers, which is higher than the smoking rate of 13% among those without asthma.
Lack of sleep was also associated with allergic diseases. The risk of developing allergic rhinitis was 40% higher in adolescents who slept less than 7 hours a day compared to those who slept more than 7 hours.
Among psychosocial factors, stress was prominent. Among adolescents with allergic diseases, the percentage who reported high levels of daily stress was 31% for allergic rhinitis, 30% for atopic dermatitis, and 29% for asthma. Those who perceived stress had a 48% higher risk of experiencing allergic rhinitis compared to those who did not.
Environmental factors also played a role. The risk of allergic rhinitis increased by 78% with higher socioeconomic status, while, conversely, the risk of atopic dermatitis decreased as the number of family members increased. In families with five or more members, the risk of atopic dermatitis was 55% lower than in families with two or fewer members. This supports the "hygiene hypothesis," which posits that fewer opportunities for exposure to diverse microorganisms in childhood weakens the immune system, thereby increasing the incidence of allergic diseases.
Professor Jeon emphasized, "This study confirmed that many adolescents are suffering from allergic diseases and that various factors influence their occurrence. Korean adolescents often cannot consistently visit hospitals due to their academic and busy schedules, so systematic education and management are necessary."
Professor Jeon also added, "Smoking can be a direct cause of asthma onset, and if asthma patients continue to smoke, their responsiveness to treatment may decrease and recovery of lung function could become difficult, making it important to educate about the risks of smoking from adolescence."