Abstract:

Mahjong play is a kind of popular entertainment in Sichuan, but its social and psychological functions are still undecided. The present study investigated the resident’s habit of Mahjong play and cigarette/alcohol use in Sichuan Earthquake area, and their relationship to mental health. The authors found that: 1) Most of participants played Mahjong rather than smoke or drunk, and the former endorsed less mental problem through the mediator of social support, while the latter did inversely. 2) The behavior of most of mahjong players and drinkers cut down, while that of smokers rise up; The rise-up participants all revealed more health problem through the mediator of social support. The results implied that playing Mahjong at measure, which is different from cigarette/alcohol use, would help relax the distress of resident in Sichuan

Key words: Mahjong, smoke, drink, mental health, social support, Sichuan Earthquake Area