Somewhat surprisingly , results for those who travelled entirely or predominantly alone were split right down the middle with those who travelled as a couple or predominantly with others . The self-imposed isolation of travelling solo did not appear to be a factor .
Exploring other variables , such as employment , living situations and relationship status both before and after the trip , results were scattershot and failed to provide conclusive data for those reporting depression .
However , of the participants unaffected by PTD , not a single one reported an unwanted change in either employment or relationship status subsequent to their trip as opposed to 71 % of those suffering moderate to severe depression .
But what came first , the chicken or the egg ? Did the changes in life circumstances contribute to the depression , or was the depression the catalyst for the changes ?
According to research , the former is more likely than the latter .
Clinical studies have shown that changes in life circumstances can trigger depression . The simple act of transitioning from a free-wheeling nomad to a responsible tax-paying citizen can be traumatic enough . But add to that : a new job ( assuming you can find one ), moving into a new house ( which by some reports , outranks going through a divorce and having children as the most stressful event in life 5 ), and / or perhaps ending a long-term relationship – all in one bang ??
Our brains are hard-wired to interpret change as a bad thing – a threat to our well-being , so it ’ s no surprise that several major life changes occurring simultaneously would be enough to kick off a depressive episode .
And as if that isn ’ t enough to throw someone into a deep funk , what happens when we lose our support system to boot ?
What happens when , on top of everything else , you no longer relate to those closest to you ?
In total , 33 % of all respondents indicated experiencing issues with friends and family , and 23 % with their partner or spouse , after returning from their trip .
Of those experiencing moderate to severe depression , those numbers rose to 43 % across the board with 46 % additionally reporting they “ no longer related to ” their friends , family , or partners .
“ Friends / family couldn ' t relate to my feelings and would tend to diminish them because they thought I was exaggerating ( you just came back from a ‘ 12 month vacation ’, what problems could you possibly have ?)” - Daniella , Chile
“ Definitely affected the relationship with friends . Not the depression itself , but the whole experience and how much it has changed my view on many things . It ' s difficult for people to relate to , and for me it was difficult to relate to what was important to them . The conversations quickly dried out and in the end I ' d say 80 % of friendships have ended …” - Alex , Ireland
A series of major life changes coupled with an increased sense of isolation seems to be a common formula for those hardest hit . But could there also be another factor at play ?
IS AGE REALLY JUST A NUMBER ?
The biggest single indicator seeming to contribute to the severity and length of depression was age . While those in their 20s & 30s collectively accounted for only 32 % of participants , they account for 65 % of those reporting moderate to severe depression .
The numbers plateau for those in their 40s , with 27 % of overall participants accounting for 21 % of cases , and sharply decrease for those in their 50s & 60s , accounting for 39 % of all participants but only 14 % of moderate to severe cases .
It ’ s also interesting to note that of the participants who did NOT report suffering from post-travel depression , only one ( 1 ) was in the 20-30s demographic ….
Additionally , the younger demographic was almost twice as likely to describe their trip as “ life changing ” - with 86 % of participants in their 20s & 30s vs . only 47 % of those in their 50s & 60s . It ’ s reasonable to surmise that those with a larger breadth of life-experience may be less affected by their trip , but when added up , the sum of the parts seem to paint a more complex picture .
The results seem to suggest that older , often more “ established ” individuals , who are returning to a stable , familiar environment , who may merely be checking off a “ bucket-list ” item or living out their retirement , have an easier time transitioning back into their “ pre-travel circumstances ”.
While younger , less-established individuals , who may be searching for a “ meaning ” or “ purpose in life ” have a harder time reintegrating with “ normal society ” once the wheels stop spinning .
This could certainly have as much to do with the growing socioeconomic disparity between “ boomers ” and “ millennials ” as anything . But since this generational war ( or at least the majority of the published studies ) seems to be limited largely to the United States , it ’ s hard to know for sure .
Likewise , many in the younger generations are quick to point out they do not attach the same stigma to mental health issues as do past generations , and are simply
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