Not enough to do is bad for your health

A recent medical study has revealed that boredom could be bad for your health.

Experts from University College London analysed more than 7,000 questionnaires completed by civil servants aged 35 to 55. The questionnaires were completed between 1985 and 1988 and questioned the participants about how often they had felt bored in the previous month.

Those who had reported boredom were more likely to die younger than those who did not. The researchers said that it was no the boredom itself which was specifically dangerous but the harmful behaviour that comes with it, such as drinking, smoking, drug taking and psychological issues.

Young women were the group most likely to be bored and were found to be at an increased risk of heart problems than those who did not report boredom. However, after researchers took underlying ill-health into account this effect was reduced.

The findings will be published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

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