Prevalence of handcrafted milk tea consumption among Chinese college students and associations with unhealthy lifestyles and sensation seeking.

Background: College students are the main consumer group of handcrafted milk tea. Excessive consumption of handcrafted milk tea may harm their physical and mental health and even lead to milk tea addiction. Despite growing consumption, relatively few studies have examined handcrafted milk tea consumption and its associated factors among college students. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of handcrafted milk tea consumption among Chinese college students and its associations with unhealthy lifestyle and sensation seeking, thereby providing empirical evidence for health education related to milk tea consumption. Methods: Data were collected from 3,596 college students using a cross-sectional survey design, in which participants completed questionnaires assessing handcrafted milk tea consumption, unhealthy lifestyle, and sensation seeking. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0, mainly including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: (1) The prevalence of handcrafted milk tea consumption among college students was 75.2%, and the excessive consumption rate was 7.0%. The average daily intake was 111.78 mL, and the average daily expenditure was 3.16 yuan. (2) Regarding unhealthy lifestyle factors, carbonated beverage consumption (OR of occasionally consumption:2.425, OR of frequently consumption:3.976), dessert intake (OR:1.761), fried food consumption (OR of less frequently consumption:1.734, OR of frequently consumption:1.827), insufficient physical activity (OR:1.389), and alcohol consumption (OR:1.551) were positively associated with handcrafted milk tea consumption. Students engaging in these unhealthy lifestyle behaviors had an increased prevalence of handcrafted milk tea consumption. (3) High sensation seeking levels (OR: 1.861) were positively associated with handcrafted milk tea consumption among college students. Students with higher levels of sensation seeking had an increased prevalence of handcrafted milk tea consumption. Conclusion: More than 70% of college students consumed handcrafted milk tea, and the rate of excessive consumption appeared to be increasing. Handcrafted milk tea consumption among college students tended to cluster with multiple unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. College students with high sensation seeking were more likely to consume handcrafted milk tea. Universities should implement targeted educational initiatives based on the identified associated factors to guide students toward rational handcrafted milk tea consumption.