Christmas festivities and all the pressure related to them are looming large, and while some look forward to it, others dread it. Most of us assume that Christmas is a merry time, but it is really? Science has the answer to whether more people are happy and healthy or dissatisfied and miserable during the ‘most wonderful time of the year’. Here is the truth.
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Are people really merry during Christmas?
When asked about their ‘merriness’ around Yuletide, 74.8% of people scored above ‘neutral’, meaning they are, in fact, happy.
While the stress levels approach the midpoint of the scale, with 57.4% disagreeing and 43.6% agreeing that the holiday was stressful, most people are still relatively satisfied with their holiday experience.
So, the answer is yes. Christmas makes most people happy.
More people have heart attacks around Christmas
Interestingly, research shows that cardiac mortality is highest during December and January, suggesting that Christmas and New Year’s Eve are risk factors for the vulnerable.
One reason explaining it can be the holiday-induced delays, but a more common explanation is all the excessive festive eating, drinking, and stress.
While an increase in hospital admission is definitely a holiday downer, the good news is studies show no increase in psychiatric admissions.
And it’s a myth that more people commit suicide on Christmas. Statistics show a postponement effect where fewer kill themselves leading up to the holiday with an increase afterwards.
What is the secret to merry Christmas, according to science?
Despite the importance of Christmas within many cultures, research has not examined the types of experiences and activities that are associated with holiday well-being.
A survey conducted amongst individuals aged between 18 and 80 showed that more happiness was reported when family and religious experiences were prioritized, and lower well-being occurred when spending money and receiving gifts predominated.
Engaging in environmentally conscious consumption practices also predicted a happier holiday, as did being older and male.
So, the scientific advice to have a truly merry Christmas includes spending time with family,going to church, and not focusing on spending money or getting gifts. Being environmentally conscious can help too.
Sources used:
- Business Insider: What does science say about having a Merry Christmas?
