results . One hundred percent of respondents travelled internationally .
Basic information such as age , length of trip , employment and relationship status were requested , and participants were asked a series of questions related to their experiences on the road . Were they injured in an accident or a victim of crime ? Was the trip an epic disaster that left them jaded and longing for home , or a life-changing event that opened their eyes to a world of possibilities ?
And of course , the crux of it all , what was it like coming home ? Did they have a home to go to , or did they start from scratch ? How did it affect their relationships ? How did it influence their views of the world , if at all ?
Was it easy reintegrating into the “ default world ” or did “ decompression ” take hold ?
BIG PICTURE :
Of the respondents , 77 % reported suffering from some form of post-travel depression ( PTD ) – 51 % of whom had never experienced measurable depression in the past . An additional 9 % of respondents , despite claims they had NOT suffered PTD ( due in part to the lack of a clinical diagnosis ) nonetheless admitted to issues interfering with daily functioning and reintegrating into society .
In total , 86 % of respondents either indicated measurable depression or issues adjusting after their trip . The most popular reasons being :
❒ “ I felt as if I ‘ changed ’ while I was gone , but everyone else was still the same ” – 61 %
❒ “ My trip induced a severe shift in the way I viewed the world and made me question people ' s priorities ” – 58 %
❒ “ I had a hard time reintegrating into my old life ” – 47 %
However , of those who did report suffering from PTD , 58 % reported the depression as mild , or just “ a case of the blues ,” which typically only lasted a month or two . These “ post-vacation blues ” are the subject of countless articles lauding tips for adjusting to life in the cubicle after your Caribbean cruise .
JUST A CASE OF THE BLUES ?
Use of the terms “ post-travel depression ” or “ traveller ’ s depression ” to describe anyone feeling down after a vacation is subject to criticism , since it typically does not involve a clinical diagnosis of major depression ( MD ). Fittingly , the clinical term “ adjustment disorder ” was developed to classify a “ maladaptive reaction to an identifiable stressor ” that can contribute to a “ significant impairment in daily functioning ”. 2 The major differences between adjustment disorder and depression are duration and cause , with adjustment disorder typically resolving itself within 6 months , and often without medical intervention . 3 The “ stressor ” ( i . e . adjusting to life after a major trip ) is also an identified quotient , versus clinical depression , for which the cause ( s ) can be much harder to identify .
Additionally , adjustment disorder does not induce significant disruptions in daily functioning or induce suicidal thoughts in the same way that a major depressive episode can .
“ Things I used to find fun and exciting prior to my travels are much less so . I have a difficult time focusing on work . I have many days when I just want to sell everything and hit the road again .” - Dustin , USA
So , what happens when “ decompression ” or “ adjustment disorder ” turns into a serious mental health issue ? What about those of us returning from what 66 % of respondents described as “ a life-changing experience that altered the course of my life and challenged my perceptions ”?
Of those surveyed reporting issues with PTD , 23 % indicated the symptoms as moderate , while the remaining 19 % ranged from “ severe ” to “ crippling ”. Some participants reported dealing with recurrent bouts of depression and anxiety for years after returning home .
Overall , 13 % of those who suffered PTD sought professional help to cope with their issues .
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE ?
Looking closer at those whose symptoms approach the clinical diagnosis of depression , what , if anything , can we learn about long-term travel , its potential negative effects on mental health , and who may be more susceptible ?
For starters , it should come as no surprise that those who spent more time on the road had a harder time readjusting . Respondents who spent in excess of two years travelling accounted for 43 % of moderate to severe cases , despite only representing 21 % of total survey participants .
Another foreseeable result is a tendency towards introversion , accounting for 64 % of those suffering moderate to severe PTD . However , studies have found “ introverts are more vulnerable than extroverts to depression and decreased mental well-being … and also , have less social support than extroverts , which can be detrimental when experiencing depression .” 4
These findings do not appear to exceed statistical expectations .
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