Vacations may improve significantly your physical and mental health
July 2007

Vacations may protect health by reducing stress, a known risk factor for many diseases. Aside from the removal of stress, vacations may work their magic by providing opportunities to engage in restorative behaviors such as interactions with family and friends and exercise.

A study from the University of Pittsburgh, analyzed data of more than 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease. The study participants had filled out questionnaires each year including a question about vacationing in the past 12 months.

Those with regular annual vacations had a lower risk of death during the study period relative to those skipping their vacations. The results held even when the researchers took the study participant's socioeconomic status into account.

Vacations had an independent health-protective effect. They were more protective against death from coronary heart disease, known to be influenced by stress than diseases such as cancer.  

Definitely more research is needed to determine the exact mechanism by which vacationing may contribute to good health.  The quantity or length and quality of annual vacations have a role on their impact on health. More research could enable a description of the type and pattern of vacationing that have health-protective effects.

The researchers stress out the importance of considering the health benefits of restorative behaviors, such as vacationing.

The study involved 1,500 women and researchers compared psychological stress, quality of marital life and disruptive home life due to work among women who take vacations frequently and those who do not.

Women participating provided information about personal health history, symptoms of tension and depression, quality of marital life, social support, job control and socioeconomic status. The self-reported health events were then verified through electronic medical records available at Marshfield Clinic.

Results found the majority of those surveyed took a vacation once a year (34 percent), followed by twice a year (23.4 percent), once every two to five years (23.2 percent) and once every six years or less (19.4 percent).

It’s shocking, according to the research scientists, that nearly one in five women studied, reported taking a vacation only once in six years.

The odds of tension increased among women who took vacations once a year, once in two to five years or once in every six years compared to women who took vacations twice or more per year.

Similar results were found for depression. The odds of being depressed increased as the frequency of vacation decreased. In addition, women who took vacations only once in six years thought their home life was more disruptive due to work, felt more tired and exhausted and had less than eight hours of sleep.

Vacations provide a break from everyday stressors. They allow us time away from work or home and help us release built-up tension.

The majority of Americans receive only two weeks of paid vacation per year, compared with more than one month of paid time off in many other countries.

Evidence from various studies prove that vacations are good for your physical and mental health and may help you be more productive and creative at work.

Employers should be supportive of time off because they benefit from having relaxed, happy employees.