Coffee consumption patterns and sleep quality among Saudi Youth: A cross-sectional study

To examine coffee consumption patterns and their associations with sleep quality indicators among Saudi youth, and to identify independent predictors of poor sleep outcomes using multivariate regression.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1458 consenting Saudi youth (aged 16-30 years) using an online questionnaire adapted from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Chi-square tests examined associations between coffee consumption patterns (type, timing, pre-bedtime cessation) and sleep variables. Binary logistic regression identified independent predictors of late bedtime (sleeping after midnight), adjusting for demographic covariates.

The sample was predominantly female (69.4%, n = 1012) and aged 18-22 years (65.7%, n = 958). Evening/night-time coffee consumption was a strong independent predictor of sleeping after midnight (OR = 3.04, 95% CI: 2.30-4.02, p < 0.001), adjusting for cessation strategy, sex, age, and student status. Chi-square analyses confirmed that coffee consumption timing showed highly significant associations with bedtime patterns (χ² = 57.806, p < 0.001), sleep duration (χ² = 42.759, p < 0.001), and daytime sleep behaviours (χ² = 27.247, p < 0.001). Pre-bedtime cessation timing was significantly associated with bedtime patterns (χ² = 73.075, p < 0.001) and nighttime awakenings (χ² = 28.912, p = 0.007).

Temporal aspects of coffee consumption demonstrate stronger and more consistent associations with sleep quality than coffee type selection. Evening coffee use is an independent risk factor for delayed sleep timing. Strategic timing interventions may be more effective than content-based restrictions for improving sleep health in Saudi youth.