The relationship between high school students’ mental health and daily activities

Objectives The primary objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between daily activities and mental health among high school students, with the aim of elucidating the impact of daily activities on their mental well-being. Methods This study utilized the 7th-year student data from the 2013 Korean Education Longitudinal Study (KELS) and focused on 6,207 second-year high school students across the nation in 2019. The analysis centered on the current status and relationships between mental health and various daily activities, including perceptions of volunteer activities, cultural activities, club activities, exercise time, and smartphone addiction. Additionally, hierarchical regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of these daily activities on mental health. Results The mental health of high school students was significantly lower in females compared to males, and students in metropolitan areas had significantly better mental health than those in Seoul metropolitan city, small and medium-sized cities, and rural areas. The mental health of high school students showed a significant positive correlation with perceptions of volunteer activities, cultural activities, club activities, and exercise time, while it was significantly negatively correlated with smartphone addiction. The daily activities that significantly influenced mental health were identified as perceptions of volunteer activities, cultural activities, exercise time, and smartphone addiction. Conclusions To promote the mental health of high school students, it is necessary to develop and support programs related to volunteer activities, cultural activities, and exercise, as well as to implement intervention strategies aimed at reducing smartphone use and addiction.