News | Thursday, 1st September 2005

Beating the post-holiday blues

Study calculates worker depression

Researchers at MMU have developed a mathematical formula to assess how depressed you may be when returning to work after a week in the sun.

The research was undertaken by Dr David Holmes, Director of the Forensic Research Group.

The factors included in the formula are, whether or not a person likes his or her job, the sort of holiday they’ve been on, whether or not they are sociable, if their travel has been easy and straightforward, frequency of holidays and whether or not they relaxed whilst on their break.

The equation, (j + c) x (r + t) – (h + o) divided by b will calculate the chances of holiday makers going back to work on a wave of depression.

Advice

The hypothesis, tested on student volunteers in the Department of Psychology, gives suggestions to ease the post-holiday depression.

Dr Holmes said: “Don’t rush back to work as soon as you return. One in three holidaymakers say the very thought of returning to work makes them feel depressed, so give yourself a day to recover from stressful travelling.

“Unpack immediately instead of leaving a depressing, half unpacked suitcase in a corner of a room. Organise something you can look forward to when you get back, like a meal out with friends or an evening out with your partner.”

Dr Holmes also suggested that if someone hates their job and goes on holiday once a year in seek of that elusive sun will be more likely to suffer from post holiday blues and will probably be in need of a lifestyle overhaul.

For more information about psychology at MMU, go to http://www.did.stu.mmu.ac.uk/hpscschool/about.php