Purpose: This study examined the association between early initiation of problem behaviors (alcohol drinking,
cigarette smoking, and sexual intercourse) and suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation and suicide attempts), and
explored the effect of concurrent participation in these problem behaviors on suicidal behaviors among Korean
adolescent males and females. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the 2006 Korean Youth Risk
Behavior Survey, a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students (32,417 males and 31,467
females) in grades seven through twelve. Bivariate and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted. Several
important covariates, such as age, family living structure, household economic status, academic performance,
current alcohol drinking, current cigarette smoking, current butane gas or glue sniffing, perceived body weight,
unhealthy weight control behaviors, subjective sleep evaluation, and depressed mood were included in the analyses.