Associations between tea-drinking habits and health-related quality of life in Chinese adults: a mediation analysis based on sleep quality

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to explore the association between tea-drinking habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese adults and the mediating effect of sleep quality in this association. Methods Data were derived from the 2020 Survey of Social Factors for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control among adults in Lishui District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Tea-drinking habits were measured by participants’ self-report. The HRQoL was measured using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey. Multiple linear regression modelling and mediating effects modelling were used for analyses. Results Habitual tea drinking, frequent tea drinking (drinking tea 6–7 days per week), tea concentration and <10 g of tea per day were strongly associated with an increase in HRQoL among Chinese adults (all p<0.05). The association between tea-drinking habits and HRQoL among Chinese adults was more pronounced in the male population and in those ≥45 y of age (all p<0.05). Tea drinking habits may improve HRQoL in Chinese adults by enhancing sleep quality (all p<0.05). Conclusions Maintaining the habit of habitual tea drinking (6–7 days per week), in small amounts (<10 g tea per day) was conducive to improving HRQoL of Chinese adults by improving sleep quality.