Refusing to go to Christmas parties will be good for your mental health.
This is one of the results of a study conducted by scientists from West Virginia University in the United States, and published by the American Psychiatric Association.
After surveying 2,000 people, researchers found that 77% of them accepted invitations to a Christmas party simply because they feared the reaction of their hosts if they refused to go.
Some fear that such a decision may weaken their relationship with the person who invited them.
“I once went to an event that I didn’t really want to go to, because I was afraid that my invitee would be upset if I didn’t go. This kind of experience seems to be very common,” said Julian Giffey, lead author of the study.
Through various experiments, scientists have observed that the majority of people exaggerate the possible reaction of their host to refusing to go to a party.
However, going to a party due to social pressure or fear of having to say no often causes stress and anxiety, and can even lead to burnout. All of these consequences can be avoided by simply declining the invitation.
In certain situations, imitating the character of Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, who avoids Christmas celebrations, can have beneficial effects on mental health.
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