 "Photo: Mitchell Saltzman/Poly Post")
The next time you are bored, you might want to do find something exciting to do. New research is saying that a person could be bored to death, literally.
According to a report from the International Journal of Epidemiology people who are often bored tend to die at a younger age.
The research by Annie Britton and Martin Shipley from University College London does not suggest that boredom alone will kill a person, but rather that it leads to a number of factors that can cause an early death.
Researchers analyzed data from a questionnaire completed between 1985 and 1988 by more than 7,500 London civil servants from ages 35 to 55.
The civil servants were asked if they felt bored more in the previous month and research found that participants that died by 2009 were those who reported being bored.
This result was linked to behaviors that evolve from boredom, such as smoking, drinking, taking drugs or having psychological problems.
Lisa Wood, a fourth-year psychology student, was not surprised by the results of this study.
“It definitely makes sense, because I know when I am bored I just start eating, even if I am not that hungry,” said Wood. “A lot of people I know that are at an unhealthy weight just eat because they are bored.”
Christopher Cannon, a spokesman for the American College of Cardiology, said why boredom can be unhealthy.
“Someone who is bored may not be motivated to eat well, exercise and have a heart-healthy lifestyle,” said Cannon. “That may make them more likely to have a cardiovascular event. It is also possible that when people are bored, dangerous hormones are released in the bodies that stress the heart.”
Another direct correlation with boredom is depression. It has been proven many times that a lonely person who is bored is more likely to be depressed.
Depression has also been recognized as a risk factor for heart disease. Jason Afuiny, a third-year computer engineering student, is skeptical about the study.
“I think there are a lot more things around us that can lead to heart disease and depression, but not everyone that is bored is necessarily depressed,” said Afuiny. “Some people aren’t as active as others, but I don’t think boredom is dangerous to the extent of death.”
Although the study is still in its preliminary stages, researchers are confident in the results and urge people to avoid developing unhealthy habits, whether they are bored or not.
According to The London Health Journal, if bored, a person should do more physical activities and embrace boredom as a time to relax. This can eventually minimize the risk of depression or an early death.
Reach Nazia Querashi at: news@thepolypost.com
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