AUTHOR=Liu Ze Hua , Wang Yi Lin , Yu Yue Shuang , Ren Yan , Zhang Tong , Liu Hong Qing , Wu Xiu Yun 

TITLE=The individual and combined associations of health behaviours with health-related quality of life amongst junior high school students in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1283721

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1283721

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the individual and joint associations of sedentary behaviour, physical activity (PA), sleep and breakfast eating on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Chinese junior high school students. 
Methods: Data were from 783 junior high school students who participated in a health behaviour and health survey in Jining city of Shandong province of China. HRQoL was measured by the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire, youth version (EQ-5D-Y). Multivariable logistic and linear regressions were applied to examine the associations between health behaviours and HRQoL. 
Results: Multivariable regression analyses showed that using a computer ≥ 2 hours a day (versus < 2 hours/day) is associated with increased likelihood of having health problems in the three EQ-D-Y dimensions, including walking, looking after self and doing usual activities. Lower PA is associated with more problems in feeling worried, sad or unhappy, and with a lower visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Students who had insufficient sleep time (e.g., < 7 hours/day), and skipped eating breakfast were more likely to experience lower HRQoL in the dimensions of having pain or discomfort, and feeling worried, sad or unhappy, and a lower VAS score than those students who had longer sleep time and no breakfast skipping. Students who reported having the combined ≥ 2 unhealthy behaviours relative to the peers with 0-1 unhealthy behaviours were more likely to have lower HRQoL.    
Conclusions: The findings in the present study underline the importance of promoting healthy behaviours in order to improve HRQoL among Chinese junior high school students.