title: World Cup's impact on mental health and lifestyle behaviors in the general population: comparing results of 2 serial population-based surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the prevalence of health-related behaviors and mental health well-being in the Hong Kong general male population before and after the 2006 World Cup finals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two anonymous, serial, comparable cross-sectional surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 500 and 530 adult Chinese men, respectively, were interviewed in 2 telephone surveys before and after the finals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those interviewed after the World Cup were more likely to eat snacks more than 3 d/wk, to be binge drinkers, or to spend more than 2 h/d communicating with family members. They were less likely to have higher General Health Questionnaire or lower Short Form-36 Health Survey Vitality scores (odds ratio [OR] = 0.684 and 0.765), to perceive family-related or work-related stress (OR = 0.327 and 0.345), or to self-report being sick or have visited a doctor (OR = 0.645 and 0.722). All variables between watchers versus nonwatchers of World Cup games were significant or marginally significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public health education should be incorporated into global sport events.
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China jlau@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Joseph Tai Fai
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Hi Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Phoenix Kit Han
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Winnie Wing Sze
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012916:Soccer; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; World Cup; alcohol; mental health; sport