Playing mahjong is more than fun; there are health benefits. Based on the activity theory of aging, social interaction and participation contribute to mental health and wellbeing for older adults (1). Read on to find out more.

What can you do with four legs?

I learned to play mahjong when I was 10 years old, back in Hong Kong where I grew up. We usually played this game when we were locked down in the apartment during typhoon seasons when schools were closed, and it was not safe to go outside. We would knock on our neighbors’ door and invite them over to play mahjong. Sometimes, we had to knock on a few doors to gather the necessary “legs” because we needed four people (one person represents one leg) for this game to work wonders. For beginners, this game would take a few hours to learn the basic rules. The fun part was to win and beat the other 3 legs by having a matching suit made from the 13 tiles. People can gamble with real money and like most things in life, this game can turn toxic if people abuse the mahjong table and sit there for 12 hours without taking a break for stretches or meals, or nourishments. Yes, there are mahjong addicts. We can tackle that topic in another post. For now, let us turn to some benefits of what this game can do in promoting mental wellness in older adults.

The Yin and Yang of Mahjong

The benefits of mahjong game are well-recognized in the Asian communities. This game is even more popular in rural cities as fewer choice of entertainment is available (3). In Canada, some long-term care facilities with Asian ethnic groups would offer mahjong as regular recreational activities. When it comes to aging and cognitive decline, studies highlight the importance of social engagement,  a game of mahjong offers an opportunity for social engagement not only among the four players at the table. Others can join in as spectators or commentators. They can share the fun and learn to play as well. As the players strive to arrange and deal with their 13 tiles, they are applying strategies, solving problems, while staying within the boundaries of the rules. Cognitively speaking, this requires working memory, multi-tasking, processing speed, and problem-solving.  Mahjong playing is linked to reduced rates of depression among middle-age and older adults in China (3). The study authors posit that regular mahjong gaming provides players with social participation which is associated with better mental health (3).

Experience can tell us that there is a ying-yang effect (or, the pros and cons) in almost everything. Here are some potential drawbacks that relate to playing mahjong, particularly to the elderly players:

1)      Too much fun can over-stimulate our mind and cause insomnia,

2)      Getting too excited about a spectacular-game or an endless losing-streak can cause blood pressure to rise rapidly,

3)      While socializing with 3 other people can be energizing, too much damaging gossips around the mahjong table can ruin the already dwindling friendships at an old age,

4)      Overjoy vs. deep disgust can cause the balance to tilt too much on one side,

5)      When moderation can act as the highlight for the day, prolonged sitting with full concentration without breaks can strain the physical and mental reserves. Research supports the strong association between physical activity and mental health among older persons (2).

A good mahjong game to me means 2 to 3 hours of stimulating recreation with 3 other people that I enjoy being with, lots of laughter, lively conversations, and winning some money chips.

Can you suggest other games that are age-friendly and beneficial in promoting mental wellness in older adults?

References

(1) Forsman, A., Herberts, C., Nyqvist, F., Wahlbeck, K., & Schierenbeck, I. (2013). Understanding the role of social capital for mental wellbeing among older adults. Ageing and Society, 33(5), 804–825. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X12000256

(2) Litwin, H. (2012). Physical activity, social network type, and depressive symptoms in late life: An analysis of data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Aging & Mental Health, 16(5), 608–616. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2011.644264

(3) Wang, R., Chen, Z., Zhou, Y., Shen, L., Zhang, Z., & Wu, X. (2019). Melancholy or mahjong? Diversity, frequency, type, and rural-urban divide of social participation and depression in middle- and old-aged Chinese: A fixed-effects analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 238, 112518. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112518