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.