earticle

영어

Purpose: This study analyzed the association between mental health factors and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Korean adolescents by school classification (middle school, general high school, and specialized high school). Methods: The data from the 2024 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Results: Perceived stress level, recovery from fatigue through sleep, sadness & hopelessness, suicidal thought, experience of loneliness significantly increased GAD risk in all school types (p<.001). Lifetime experience of habitual or intentional drug use showed a unique association with GAD in middle schools (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.42~2.48). Conclusion: Tailored interventions are critical. Middle schools require transitional adaptation support and drug prevention programs, general high schools need academic stress management, and specialized high schools benefit from stigma reduction strategies. The study advocates for mandatory annual GAD screenings using a two-phase system (Mind EASY +GAD-7) and inter-ministerial collaboration to integrate school-based counseling with clinical services. Longitudinal research on COVID-19’s long-term mental health impacts and comorbid conditions (e.g., depression, ADHD) is recommended. These findings underscore the necessity of school-type-specific policies to address heterogeneous risk profiles and enhance early intervention efficacy.