From 6th grade to high school, new data shows teen health declining in Korea
In a nation where academic pressure intensifies sharply as children grow older, a groundbreaking multiyear study is revealing how the physical and mental health of teenagers deteriorates over time. As students trade play for cram schools, public health officials are uncovering the long-term toll of childhood in one of the world's most competitive societies. The Korea Disease Control and…
A new multiyear study from Korea reveals that the physical and mental health of teenagers is declining as they progress from middle school to high school. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency released data from the sixth annual Youth Health Panel Survey, which tracks a cohort of 5,051 students who entered the study as sixth-graders in 2019.
The latest dataset includes 4,141 students, representing an 82 percent retention rate, as they entered their second year of high school in 2024. The survey examines 29 core health indicators across five major domains: diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and general illness. Notably, the 2024 dataset added specific metrics measuring screen addiction and high-caffeine energy drink consumption, highlighting the challenges teenagers face in coping with intense academic pressure.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
